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Biomedical subjects

M Ross

Publications and source records attributed to M Ross.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1981

Use of an experimental autoimmune model to define nerve growth factor dependency of peripheral and central substance P-containing neurons in the rat.

Rats exposed to maternal antibodies against nerve growth factor (NGF) in utero and in milk have been used to investigate the developmental dependency of various substance P-containing neurons on NGF. Substance P and other peptides were measured by radioimmunoassays. The substance P content of sensory ganglia, spinal cord, and skin was depleted 40 to 60% in anti-NGF-treated rats. These results demonstrate the NGF dependence of substance P-containing neurons in sensory ganglia. Opiate binding in the spinal cord was not changed despite the large depletion in substance P: the Bmax and KD were the same in control and treated animals. The results suggest that opiate receptors may not be located presynaptically on substance P-containing primary afferents. Among the peripheral tissues which were assayed (ileum, submaxillary gland, retina, and adrenal), substance P decreased only in the adrenal, suggesting innervation by a NGF-dependent substance P-containing neuron. No changes were detected in the substance P content of nine different brain regions, in agreement with previous observations on the lack of effect of NGF on central neurons.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Factor structure of the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST) among acutely disturbed psychiatric patients.

Investigated a factor analysis of the responses of acutely disturbed psychiatric inpatients (N = 182) to the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test. Control for differential item difficulty and use of an oblique factor rotation after principal-axis extraction served to highlight the first of four factors as accounting for the preponderance of individual differences in test outcome.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1980

Medical school education in mental retardation.

Physicians have been criticized regarding their role in dealing with retarded persons and families. Reviews of medical education programs suggest that physicians are not adequately trained in this area. The present study of 64 U.S. medical schools indicates that almost half presented only minimal coverage on the topic of mental retardation and offered inadequate clinical experience. The study concludes that there are deficiencies in medical education in mental retardation as well as in all other forms of chronic disability. A possible solution to this dilemma is to require a multidisciplinary course in chronic disabilities to teach medical students about the psychological and physical problems of the disabled.

Education of Persons with Intellectual Disabilitie↗
PubMed1980

Labetalol and propranolol in mild hypertensives: comparison of blood pressure and plasma volume effects.

Labetalol administered in a small to moderate dose (first month 400 mg/day, second month average 585 mg/day) was effective in lowering blood pressure (BP) (-21/-18 mmHg, recumbent) in 11 of 13 mild essential hypertensives over an eight-week period, despite a significant (+294 ml) increase in plasma volume. The effect of propranolol (first month 160 mg/day, second month average 234 mg/day) was significantly less on both blood pressure (-9/-9 mmHg) and plasma volume (+98 ml), although the pre-propranolol BP was lower and the final BP achieved on the two medications was comparable (labetalol 147/89 mmHg, propranolol 145/89). Six patients who continued labetalol for periods of up to 14 months had persistent plasma volume expansion. Three of these, taking a higher dose of labetalol, developed resistance to the drug's antihypertensive effect. Addition of a diuretic restored antihypertensive efficacy and led to a fall in plasma volume. No such plasma volume expansion was seen in six patients who were followed on long term propranolol therapy. Some plasma volume expansion with the combined alpha- beta-adrenoceptor blocker labetalol may be appropriate to its vasodilator action. Provided this effect is not excessive, it appears not to lead to resistance to its antihypertensive action. Small to moderate doses of labetalol would, therefore, seem effective without concomitant diuretic. Such sole use of labetalol could help minimise orthostatic symptoms which can be a major side effect of combination therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Viral antibody titres in HBs antigen-positive and -negative chronic active hepatitis.

A comparative study of antibody titres to nine common viruses has been carried out in hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen-positive and -negative chronic active liver disease. The results show that increased titres of antibody to morbilli virus by complement fixation and to rubella by haemagglutination inhibition are found in HBs antigen-negative but not in HBs antigen-positive chronic active liver disease. There was a significant association of increased morbilli but not of rubella virus antibody titres with the presence of high-titre nuclear antibodies (ANA) but no association with smooth-muscle antibody or the presence of HLA-B8.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Immune function in patients with extrahepatic portal venous obstruction and the effect of splenectomy.

Abnormalities of cell-mediated immunity-anergy to delayed hypersensitivity skin testing, diminished T-lymphocyte concentrations and mitogen responsiveness, and the presence of serum inhibitors--have been shown to be present in patients with portal venous obstruction and normal hepatic function. In contrast, tests of humoral immunity--antibody titiers to viral and bacterial antigens and immunoglobulin concentrations--were normal. These abnormalities in cell-mediated immunity are probably the result of the development of portal hypertension, portosystemic shunting, and congestive splenomegaly. These studies raise the possibility that qualitatively similar defects in patients with chronic liver disease and portal hypertension may, in part, be attributable to the same mechanisms.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Plasma beta-endorphin immunoreactivity in schizophrenia.

Plasma beta-endorphin-like immunoreactivity was measured by a method that was equally sensitive to beta-endorphin and [Leu5]-beta-endorphin. Immunoreactivity in 98 schizophrenic patients did not differ greatly from that in 42 normal subjects. No immunoreactivity was detectable in dialyzates from first-time hemodialysis of eight nonpsychotic renal patients and nine schizophrenic patients. These results are not compatible with recent reports of extremely high concentrations of [Leu5]-beta-endorphin in hemodialyzates from schizophrenic patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Pharmacological and immunological characterization of the Leu5 analogue of human beta-endorphin.

The potencies of beta h-endorphin, Met (O)5-beta h-endorphin, and synthetic Leu5-beta h-endorphin have been compared in three bioassays of opioid activity, and in two radioimmunoassays. In all assays, a peptide isolated from hemodialysates from a psychotic patient behaved like Leu5-beta h-endorphin; it has been distinguished unambiguously from beta h-endorphin and Met(O)5-beta h-endorphin. Leu5-beta h-endorphin was one-fifth as potent as beta h-endorphin in guinea pig ileum myenteric plexus, but was only slightly less active in mouse vas deferens and in guinea pig brain opiate receptor binding assay. The low cross-reactivity of Leu5-beta h-endorphin relative to beta h-endorphin with an antiserum raised to beta-endorphin suggests that the preferred solution conformations of these peptides are different. In all bioassays beta h-endorphin was 2- to 3-fold less potent than beta c-endorphin.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Esophageal motility in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). Comparison of cine-radiographic and manometric evaluation.

The evaluation of structural and functional abnormalities of the esophagus by manometry (using perfused tubes) and cine-radiography were compared in 25 subjects with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). Motility by both procedures was definitely abnormal in 19 subjects and normal in 3. The remaining 3 subjects had abnormal motility on manometry, coupled with cine-esophagrams interpreted as normal. Many structural abnormalities not demonstrated by manometry were identified by cine-radiography. Therefore, the initial diagnostic examination of motility in PSS should be the cine-esophagram.

Cineradiography↗