Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Simmons

Publications and source records attributed to M Simmons.

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

A comparison of psychotropic drug use between the general population and clients of health and social service agencies.

The purpose of this research was to study the epidemiology of psychotropic drug use among the general population and to draw comparisons to drug use among clients of medical, mental health, and social services in the same jurisdiction. Results showed considerably higher percentages of users for all drug categories among agency clientele. Age and sex differences in drug use replicated previous research in the general population but were noticeably absent among the clients of local services. Notably, the proportion of long-term daily users of minor tranquilizers in the agency population was about three times that of the general population. However, tranquilizer users in the two populations were similar in many respects. Results of the study are discussed in terms of the need for screening for persons with psychotropic drug problems in health and social services.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Adrenoleukodystrophy: imaging with CT, MRI, and PET.

A patient with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) was tested with a series of CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomographic (PET) images. The computed tomographic (CT) scan revealed the classical pattern described in ALD but showed little relation to the clinical presentation and the evolution of the disease. The MRI showed a larger area of abnormality than the one detected with the CT scan and was more sensitive to progression of the disease process. The PET scan done for cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism showed derangements on gray matter that were not detected with either of the previous tests.

Adrenoleukodystrophy↗
PubMed1985

Potassium supplementation in hypertensive patients with diuretic-induced hypokalemia.

Changes in potassium balance have been found to have variable effects on the blood pressure of animals, and the administration of potassium supplements has been reported to lower the blood pressure of normokalemic hypertensive patients. To assess the effect of potassium repletion in hypokalemic hypertension, we administered either potassium chloride, 60 mmol per day, or placebo tablets, each for six weeks, in a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial to 16 hypertensive patients who had diuretic-induced hypokalemia and who continued to take a constant amount of diuretic. We selected patients whose control serum potassium levels were below 3.5 mmol per liter. In association with an average rise in the serum potassium concentration of 0.56 mmol per liter, the mean blood pressure fell by an average of 5.5 mm Hg (P = 0.004), with at least a 4 mm Hg fall observed in 9 of the 16 patients. The fall in blood pressure correlated with a fall in plasma renin activity (r = 0.568, P = 0.043) but not with changes in plasma aldosterone levels or other variables. We conclude that short-term potassium supplementation that ameliorates diuretic-induced hypokalemia may induce a significant fall in blood pressure.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

A controlled trial of real and simulated acupuncture in the management of chronic asthma.

In 25 patients with moderate to severe asthma, we compared the therapeutic effectiveness of classic Chinese acupuncture with that of "placebo" acupuncture administered in a randomly ordered, subject- and evaluator-blind, crossover fashion twice weekly for 4 weeks. Real and placebo acupuncture periods were each preceded and followed by 3- to 4-week periods during which no acupuncture was administered. Outcome variables consisted of the following: daily symptoms and medication use self-scored on patient diaries, spirometry and whole body plethysmography performed once weekly during the entire course of the study and repeated serially during 3 hours after real and placebo acupuncture treatment, patients' self-assessment of acute efficacy of acupuncture therapy, and physician's physical findings before and after acupuncture treatment. Two-way analysis of variance failed to reveal a significant effect of either form of acupuncture on symptoms, medication use, or lung function measurements. Similarly, no significant acute effect of acupuncture on lung function, self-ratings of efficacy, or physician's physical findings was found by covariance analysis or the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. When data during the entire course of the study were examined on an individual basis by analysis of variance with repeated measures, only two subjects demonstrated significantly favorable responses to real versus placebo acupuncture, but one subject demonstrated the reverse, suggesting that these responses were not specifically related to acupuncture therapy. Thus, our findings failed to demonstrate any short- or long-term benefit of acupuncture therapy in the management of moderate to severe asthma.

Acupuncture Therapy↗
PubMed1984

The UCLA population studies of chronic obstructive respiratory disease. VII. Relationship between parental smoking and children's lung function.

Results of previous studies of the impact of parents' smoking on children's lung function have been conflicting. To evaluate further the effect of passive smoking on the lung function of children, we analyzed respiratory questionnaire and lung function results obtained during field testing of residents (aggregated according to household) of 4 census tracts in the Los Angeles area. We report here on 971 white, non-Hispanic, nonsmoking, nonasthmatic children residing in households in which the smoking status of both parents was known; households with ex-smoking parents were excluded from analysis. We divided these children into 3 categories related to parental smoking status: (1) at least mother smokes , (2) only father smokes , and (3) neither parent smokes . Prediction equations for several indexes of forced expired volume and flow were derived separately for boys and girls 7 to 17 yr of age. Analysis of variance was used to compare lung function residuals of children in the 3 different passive smoking categories. Analysis was performed separately on younger (7 to 11 yr of age) and older (12 to 17 yr of age) children of each sex. Among younger male children, residual values were significantly lower in the maternal smoking category than in the other 2 household categories for maximal flow and maximal flow after exhalation of 25% of forced vital capacity (FVC) (p less than or equal to 0.05); no differences were noted between the paternal-smoking only and nonsmoking household categories. A trend toward similar results was found in older male children, which approached significance (p less than 0.1). Among females, forced expiratory flow during the middle half of the FVC and maximal flow after exhalation of 75% of FVC were significantly lower in relation to maternal smoking in the older children only (p less than or equal to 0.05). ANOVA revealed no decrement in lung function in relation to passive smoking among children with asthma or bronchitis (n=138).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

The UCLA population studies of chronic obstructive respiratory disease. VIII. Effects of smoking cessation on lung function: a prospective study of a free-living population.

We evaluated effects of smoking cessation on lung function and respiratory symptoms of residents 25 to 64 yr of age from 3 communities in the Los Angeles area who completed a detailed respiratory questionnaire and measurements of forced expired volumes and flow rates, closing volume, and closing capacity at 2 times (T1 and T2) 5 yr apart. Results were analyzed in 2,401 participants who fit into 4 smoking categories: never smokers (414 males, 737 females); former smokers (294 males; 172 females); quitters between T1 and T2 (106 males, 62 females); and continuing smokers (278 males, 338 females). Covariance analysis was used to determine differences in lung function across smoking categories at T1 and T2 (adjusted for T1 values) and differences in decline in lung function between T1 and T2. Chi-square analysis was used to compare continuing smokers and quitters with respect to changes in respiratory symptoms. In this population, smoking at T1 was associated with impairment in all indexes of lung function evaluated. Smoking cessation led to significant improvement in symptoms of cough, wheeze, and phlegm production, and to significantly less decline in indexes of small airway function during 5 yr compared with measurements in continuing smokers. However, at T2, lung function still was lower among quitters compared with former and never smokers. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was marginally improved in women who quit compared with those who continued to smoke.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Comparison of lung function in young nonsmokers and smokers before and after initiation of the smoking habit. A prospective study.

It has been suggested that young persons who smoke have better lung function initially than those who remain nonsmokers. To examine this possibility prospectively, we analyzed respiratory questionnaire responses and lung function results in residents of Burbank and Lancaster, California, who had completed field screening studies of respiratory status at 2 times 5 yr apart. At Time 1 and Time 2, we calculated the age- and height-adjusted values for forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV) of all white residents who at Time 1 were 13 to 23 yr of age and did not smoke tobacco. Dividing these into 2 groups, "starters" and "nonsmokers," we used analysis of covariance for males and females with height and age as covariates and compared lung function values at Times 1 and 2 and changes in lung function between these times. Among males at Time 1, FVC, FEV, peak expiratory flow, and maximal flow after exhalation of 25% of FVC were significantly larger for starters than for nonsmokers. At Time 2, values for these same indexes (except for FVC) were no longer significantly different between starters and nonsmokers. Our findings suggest that (1) relatively poor lung function may discourage young males (but not young females) from becoming regular tobacco smokers; (2) prediction equations based on so-called normal populations of nonsmokers might underestimate normal lung function, and (3) the adverse effect of smoking on lung function may be even greater than that estimated from cross-sectional studies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Malaria.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Differences in the composition of preterm and term human milk during early lactation.

The composition of human milk from mothers delivering prematurely (PT) and at term (T) was studied over the first weeks of lactation. Complete 24 h milk expressions were obtained by electric pump at weekly or biweekly intervals through 44 wk conceptual age (120 samples from 20 PT mothers and 28 samples from 7 T mothers). PT milk was found to contain significantly higher concentrations than T milk of the following nutrients: total nitrogen, protein nitrogen, sodium, chloride, magnesium and iron. No differences were found between T and PT milk for nonprotein nitrogen, volume, solids, total calories, lactose, fat, fatty acids, potassium or calcium. The nutrients supplied to a 33 wk preterm infant fed 200 ml/kg/day of "average" PT milk were in excess of theoretic intrauterine requirements for all substrates except calcium and phosphorus. PT human milk is theoretically more suitable for the premature infant than either mature or term human milk, but may be deficient in specific nutrients for the very low birth weight baby.

Calcium↗
PubMed1982

Two techniques to improve adherence to dietary sodium restriction in the treatment of hypertension.

To improve adherence to dietary sodium restriction, we validated two simple techniques for providing rapid and accurate estimated of urinary content-overnight urine collections and an immediate analysis of urine sodium content. These techniques were then applied in a trial with a group of patients with hypertension who were considered to be resistant to the adoption of dietary changes. After six months, 68% of the patients on the lower-sodium diet reduced their urine sodium content by one third or more. They had an 11-mm Hg fall in mean BP compared with a 3-mm Hg rise in the control group, who were not on a lower-sodium diet, and a lesser fall in plasma potassium levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Re-evaluation of birth weights at high altitude. Study of babies born to mothers living at an altitude of 3,100 meters.

Babies born at altitudes above 2,700 meters have been reported to be below normal birth weight and small for gestational age (SGA). In a study of a specific community (Leadville, Colorado, altitude 3,100 meters) over a period of 14 months (ending November, 1978), 215 newborn infants were found to be appropriate for gestational age (AGA), with the entire group having a mean birth weight (3.16 kilograms) similar to that of newborn infants in Denver, Colorado (3.12 kilograms). This study from a community with a stable population indicates that babies born at high altitude are AGA. The increased morbidity which does occur for these babies is not due to SGA factors.

Altitude↗
PubMed1980

Bronchodilator effects of low doses of oral theophylline and terbutaline in asthmatic subjects.

The acute pulmonary and cardiovascular effects of single doses of theophylline 130 mg and terbutaline 2.5 mg administered alone and in combination were compared with placebo over a period of seven hours in 16 stable asthmatic subjects. Terbutaline 2.5 mg produced significant bronchodilatation that peaked at three hours and lasted for four to six hours. Theophylline 130 mg produced small increments in serum theophylline concentration (1.5-4.5 microgram/ml), did not produce greater bronchodilatation than placebo and did not provide additional bronchodilatation when combined with terbutaline 2.5 mg. The clinical implications of these findings with respect to the possible utility of combining low doses of theophylline with low doses of a beta-adrenergic stimulant are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

The influence of antigen properties on the conditions required to elute antibodies from immunoadsorbents.

Immunoadsorbents were used to purify a number of antibodies. Using pH 2.0 acid conditions alone it was possible to elute antibodies raised against human growth hormone (HGH) and Fc fragments from such immunoadsorbents with 50% or better recovery of antibody activity. However, to elute antibodies raised against triiodothyronine and cortisol required 6 M guanidine HCl, pH 2.0. The avidities of the purified antibodies were similar to those of the non-purified antibodies. The purified antibodies were stable in solution at 4 degrees C for at least six months.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Bronchodilator effects of terbutaline and aminophylline alone and in combination in asthmatic patients.

In 17 patients with moderate to severe asthma, we compared acute bronchodilator effects of the following drugs or drug combinations using a double-blind crossover design: terbutaline, 5; aminophyline 400; terbutaline, 5, plus aminophyline, 400; terbutaline, 2.5; aminophylline, 200; terbutaline, 2.5, plus aminophyline, 200 mg; and placebo. The higher doses of terbutaline and aminophylline alone produced comparable bronchodilation and similarly frequent adverse side effects; low doses of each drug also had comparable effects. The high-dose combination produced significantly (P less than 0.05) greater bronchodilatation than either drug alone. The low dose combination had bronchodilator effects comparable to those produced by the higher dose of either drug alone. These findings suggest therapeutic advantages in combining high doses of theophylline and an oral beta adrenergic agonist (terbutaline) in asthma not well controlled on high doses of either drug alone and in combining these drugs in lower doses in patients experiencing intolerable side effects from a high dose of either drug.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

The radiology of bone changes in rhabdomyosarcoma.

Rhabdomyosarcoma usually presents as a soft tissue mass, which may invade adjacent bone. However, the patient presents occasionally with bony metastases. Recognition of these is important for staging and management. Fifty-eight cases have been reviewed; 14 of these had local bone invasion by the soft tissue tumour. All bones involvel were flat bones; 12 showed permeated bone destruction and two showed geographic destruction. Bone expansion was seen in half the involved bones. Twelve of the 58 cases showed secondary bone deposits, which were the presenting feature in five. Although 10 cases had permeated bone destruction, two were very well defined with a wide range of radiological appearances. The radiological differential diagnosis includes neuroblastoma, leukaemic infiltration, lymphoma, histiocytosis X, solitary and multifocal osteosarcoma and other deposits.

Adolescent↗