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Biomedical subjects

M Murphy

Publications and source records attributed to M Murphy.

At least 469 records · Page 26Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Opiate receptor thermodynamics: agonist and antagonist binding.

The equilibrium thermodynamics of [3H]etorphine and [3H]diprenorphine binding to rat brain membranes were studied. In the absence of NaCl, the binding of [3H]etorphine was endothermic (delta Ho = +2.31 kcal/mol) and driven by a large increase in entropy (delta So = +51.8 e.u.). Under similar conditions, the binding of [3H]diprenorphine was exothermic (delta Ho = -2.78 kcal/mol). In the presence of 100 mM NaCl, [3H]etorphine binding was relatively isothermic (delta Ho = +0.61 kcal/mol) and driven by a large increase in entropy (delta So = +45.6 e.u.). NaCl significantly decreased both delta Ho (-2.78 to -7.48 kcal/mol) and delta So (33.0 to 18.5 e.u.) for [3H]diprenorphine binding. The data suggest that the agonist configuration of the opiate receptor exists in a more open and mobile (higher entropy) conformation than does the antagonist form of the receptor.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Occupational therapy issues in the treatment of the long-term mentally ill.

In this paper, a single case study is used to facilitate discussion of problems encountered by occupational therapists engaged in working with the long-term mentally ill. The achievement of the long-range and multi-faceted approach necessary for the management of this population is a recognized challenge. Some of the paradoxes and dilemmas involved in programming and the measurement of outcome and success are clarified. As well, sources of stress to individuals involved in working with the long-term mentally ill are considered. Issues addressed include: philosophy of approach, professional and personal conflicts patients' wishes and involvement, and the low priority given to working with this group. Two main objectives of the paper are to: bring an appreciation for the complexity of the difficulties presented and demonstrate how occupational therapists can offer valuable contributions in working with the long-term mentally ill.

Chronic Disease↗
PubMed1985

Circulating immunoreactive somatostatin in man. Effect of age, pregnancy, growth hormone deficiency and achlorhydria.

Plasma immunoreactive somatostatin (IRS) levels were measured fasting at 09.00 h in groups of adult individuals and children of different ages, as well as in pregnant women, in patients with pernicious anaemia documented to be achlorhydric, and in children with growth hormone deficiency. There was a gradual rise in the mean level of IRS from the third decade (mean 35.8 +/- 3.8 pg/ml), which reached significance at the seventh (61.1 +/- 8.4 pg/ml), eighth (66.7 +/- 5 pg/ml) and ninth decade (82.6 +/- 13.8 pg/ml). No change was observed in the second 28.3 +/- 3.8 pg/ml) and third (31.1 +/- 3.2 pg/ml) trimester of pregnancy when compared with matched, non-pregnant controls (29.7 +/- 2.2 pg/ml); however, the children aged under 2 years (69.6 +/- 11.2 pg/ml) had significantly higher values than the eldest group (12 to 16 years old) (46.3 +/- 7.2 pg/ml) (P less than 0.05). In achlorhydric patients, basal (27.2 +/- 3.7 pg/ml; P less than 0.01) and postprandial IRS (42.8 +/- 7.7 pg/ml; P less than 0.001) was significantly lower than in a matched, normal control group (basal 59.4 +/- 7.2; postprandial 132.1 +/- 26.3 pg/ml). Growth hormone deficiency was not associated with any differences in circulating IRS, basally or after insulin hypoglycaemia, when compared with values in normal children.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Achlorhydria↗
PubMed1985

Physiological characteristics of elite sport parachutists.

The physiological characteristics of 10 male elite sport parachutists (31.6 +/- 3.69 years of age) were determined and compared to 10 male non-sport parachutist controls (30.2 +/- 4.31 years) and other selected elite athletes. The typical sport parachutist was a highly educated (16.4 +/- 2.41 years), first born (9 out of 10), and, more often than not, single individual. During their mean 10.8 years of sport parachuting, these individuals made an average total number of 1,950 jumps (range 980 to 3,100) with a mean of 237.5 jumps during each of the last three years. Mean total free fall time was 22 h and 40 min. Compared to the non-sport parachutist control group, the elite sport parachutists were significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in aerobic power (47.4 +/- 9.04 vs. 37.2 +/- 4.67 ml X kg-1 X min-1), vital capacity (5.27 +/- 0.49 vs. 5.05 +/- 0.31 L), maximum heart rate (203.2 +/- 9.2 vs. 190.1 +/- 7.4 bpm), and back hyperextension flexibility (21.12 +/- 4.1 vs. 18.41 +/- 2.4 in). The elite sport parachutist were also significantly lower (p less than 0.05) in relative (%) body fat when compared to the control group (15.7 +/- 4.51 vs. 20.1 +/- 2.12%). The two groups were not significantly different (p greater than 0.05) with respect to resting heart rate, absolute body weight, dominant hand-grip strength, or lower back/hamstring flexibility as measured by the sit-and-reach test. Regarding somatotype, the elite sport parachutist can be classified as a balanced mesomorph. Compared to other selected elite athletes, the sport parachutists were lower in aerobic power and higher in relative body fat, yet with a summation of triceps, suprailiac, and abdominal skinfolds in the acceptable range for male athletes. The elite sport parachutists were approximately mid-range in absolute body weight and lower back/hamstring flexibility when compared to other selected elite athletes. Based on the findings of this study, there is evidence to suggest that some form of regular aerobic exercise along with a stretching and flexibility program is advisable for those individuals considering frequent participation and desiring peak performance in sport parachuting.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Increases in platelet and red cell counts, blood viscosity, and arterial pressure during mild surface cooling: factors in mortality from coronary and cerebral thrombosis in winter.

Six hours of mild surface cooling in moving air at 24 degrees C with little fall in core temperature (0.4 degree C) increased the packed cell volume by 7% and increased the platelet count and usually the mean platelet volume to produce a 15% increase in the fraction of plasma volume occupied by platelets. Little of these increases occurred in the first hour. Whole blood viscosity increased by 21%; plasma viscosity usually increased, and arterial pressure rose on average from 126/69 to 138/87 mm Hg. Plasma cholesterol concentration increased, in both high and low density lipoprotein fractions, but values of total lipoprotein and lipoprotein fractions were unchanged. The increases in platelets, red cells, and viscosity associated with normal thermoregulatory adjustments to mild surface cooling provide a probable explanation for rapid increases in coronary and cerebral thrombosis in cold weather. The raised arterial pressure and possibly cholesterol concentration may contribute to slower components of the increased thrombosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Effects of oral exposure to trichloroethylene on female reproductive function.

The present study was conducted to determine if subchronic oral exposure to trichloroethylene (TCE) influenced female reproductive performance, and if TCE or major metabolites trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and trichloroethanol (TCOH) preferentially accumulated in female reproductive organs or neonatal tissues. Female Long-Evans hooded rats were exposed to vehicle (corn-oil), 10, 100 or 1000 mg/kg/day by gavage for 2 weeks before mating and throughout mating to day 21 of pregnancy. Gas chromatography analysis of tissues from females at the end of premating exposure indicated that TCE levels were uniformly high in fat, adrenals and ovaries across treatment groups, while uterine tissue had relatively high levels of TCA. Female fertility, however, was not influenced in any treatment group. In the 1000 mg/kg/day group, 5 out of 23 females died and weight gain was significantly depressed throughout the treatment period. Neonatal survival was significantly depressed in this group alone, with the majority of deaths occurring among female offspring at the time of birth. TCA levels in blood, liver, and milk contents of the stomach in female but not male neonates increased across treatment groups. These results indicate that oral exposure to TCE at levels below those causing limiting maternal toxicity had no influence on pregnancy outcome, and that the accumulation of TCE and TCA in ovaries, adrenals and uteri had no influence on mating success.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1984

Prospective comparative trial of moxalactam versus ampicillin or chloramphenicol for treatment of Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis in children.

In a prospective, randomized study, moxalactam in 44 children was compared with ampicillin or chloramphenicol in 47 children for the treatment of Haemophilus influenzae type b meningitis. Both groups were comparable in terms of clinical and laboratory findings at admission. The hospital course, neurologic sequelae including deafness, and number of deaths were the same for both groups. The incidence of adverse reactions also was the same except that diarrhea and thrombocytosis occurred significantly (P less than or equal to 0.04) more frequently in children given moxalactam. Moxalactam was equivalent to ampicillin or chloramphenicol in the treatment of H. influenzae type b meningitis in children.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1984

A fifteen-month double-blind cross-over study of the efficacy and antigenicity of human and pork insulins.

The antigenicity and efficacy of semi-synthetic human and pancreatic pork insulins have been compared in a double-blind double cross-over study in 96 insulin-treated diabetic patients. Transfer from pork to human insulin was associated with a 1.2 +/- 0.5 mmol/l deterioration (p less than 0.05) in the fasting blood glucose level, while the opposite change caused a 1.1 +/- 0.5 mmol/l improvement (p less than 0.05). After 4 months treatment, glycosylated haemoglobin levels were lower on pork (11.1 +/- 0.3%) than on human (11.7 +/- 0.3% p less than 0.01) insulin. The incidence of hypoglycaemia was similar with the two insulins. IgG insulin antibody levels were identical after human insulin treatment (5.7 +/- 0.4 micrograms/l) compared to pork insulin treatment (5.9 +/- 0.5 micrograms/l). Patients with high levels of antibodies (greater than 10 micrograms/l) showed a similar reduction in level when switched to either species of highly purified insulin. The deterioration in fasting blood glucose control is consistent with similar reports for biosynthetic human insulin and suggests, in the absence of changes in insulin antibody levels, a small but clinically significant pharmacokinetic difference between human and pork insulin.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Nucleotide sequence and expression in E. coli of a human interferon-alpha gene selected from a genomic library using synthetic oligonucleotides.

The complete nucleotide sequence of a human interferon-alpha gene is reported. The gene, designated IFN-alpha M1, was isolated from a human genomic library in phage lambda Charon 4A using synthetic oligonucleotides as hybridization probes. Based on a comparison of nucleotide sequence data obtained from this recombinant phage with published interferon-alpha gene sequences, a region of DNA capable of coding for a pre-interferon of 189 amino acids was identified. An AluI fragment containing the coding region for the mature interferon was inserted into the HincII site of the phage M13mp11, resulting in a fusion of portions of the IFN-alpha M1 and the beta-galactosidase genes. Antiviral activity was detected in extracts from E. coli infected with the recombinant M13 phage carrying the fused gene. The antiviral activity was completely neutralized by antibodies to human interferon-alpha.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1984

Insulin and cortisol improve heat tolerance in isolated perfused rat liver.

Isolated rat livers were perfused at 37 degrees, 41 degrees, 42 degrees, and 43 degrees C with and without insulin and cortisol. Two additional groups were perfused at 42 degrees C with either hormone alone. The perfusate contained red blood cells, amino acids, and albumin in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate. Bile flow was significantly increased by hormones at 37 degrees C. Bile flow was also increased by hormones at all other temperatures. At 41 degrees C, K+ leakage was the only parameter that indicated injury. Insulin and cortisol significantly reduced K+ leakage at this temperature compared to those without hormones. At 42 degrees C, insulin and cortisol reduced K+ leakage, increased bile flow, reduced transaminase release, and improved ultrastructural integrity. The enhanced bile flow was due primarily to insulin. A reduction in K+ leakage required both insulin and cortisol. Transaminase leakage responded to either hormone alone or in combination; however, only the cortisol-treated group showed a statistically significant reduction in transaminase leakage. At 43 degrees C, indications of irreversible injury were evident and hormones had no beneficial effects. Loss of membrane homeostasis appeared to be the initial event.

Alanine Transaminase↗
PubMed1983

Rabies induced in a cat by high-egg-passage Flury strain vaccine.

An adult male domestic short-hair cat developed posterior paralysis 22 days after being vaccinated for rabies with a high-egg-passage Flury strain vaccine currently approved for use in cats. A diagnosis of rabies was confirmed by mouse inoculations, and viral typing using a panel of monoclonal antibodies demonstrated that it was vaccine induced.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Extent of squamous cancer of the lung correlates with alterations in circulating T cells.

In the present study we have assessed the effect of tumor size, node involvement, and overall extent of disease on the circulating T-cell profile. The effect of cigarette smoking was taken into account by covariate analysis. Compared to normal controls, the T-cell profile for a group of patients with limited disease is only different when evaluated on the basis of lymph node involvement. If lymph nodes were clinically uninvolved by tumor, there was an increase in total lymphocytes with an increase in total OKT3+ and OKT8+ lymphocytes. There was a decrease in percentage, but in total number of OKT4+ cells. The OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio was reduced. The T-cell profile for patients with extensive disease demonstrated a rise in WBC and an increased total lymphocyte count secondary to an increase in OKT3+ and OKT8+ cells. These findings were primarily owing to the T3 tumor classification, which indicates gross extension. The major difference between the limited disease and extensive disease groups appeared to depend upon whether or not the lymph nodes were involved by tumor. In the patients with positive lymph nodes there was a decreased percentage as well as absolute number of OKT8+ cells. As a group, therefore, these patients appeared different from those with limited disease on the basis of a high OKT4+/OKT8+ ratio. Therefore, monitoring of the T-cell profile in these patients may be useful in assessing disease activity.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1982

Sudden infant death syndrome associated with rotavirus infection.

Rotavirus was detected in the stools of five children stricken with sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) over a three-week period. While none of the children had acute gastroenteritis, four of the five had acute upper respiratory infections. Rotavirus was also identified in tracheal aspirates from two of the infants. Extensive investigations failed to reveal the presence of any other viruses or toxins in specimens obtained from the five children with SIDS. Rotavirus was not found in the stool specimens obtained from a control group of 36 infants including six who died of causes other than SIDS. Future attempts at the prevention of rotavirus infections should be directed at populations susceptible to sudden infant death syndrome.

Feces↗