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Biomedical subjects

M Watson

Publications and source records attributed to M Watson.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

The effect of thyroid status on the growth hormone response to growth hormone releasing hormone 1-44.

The growth hormone (GH) response to iv injection of GH releasing hormone 1-44 (GHRH 1-44) has been examined in 10 hyperthyroid and 6 hypothyroid patients. Both groups of patients were studied at presentation and when euthyroid (mean 5 months for hyperthyroid, 8 months for hypothyroid). Hyperthyroid subjects demonstrated a peak mean (+/- SE) level of 17.7 +/- 3.8 mU/l, with an integrated GH 29.3 +/- 6.4 mU/l.h. When euthyroid the peak mean level was 17.0 +/- 5.0 mU/l and the integrated GH 22.8 +/- 4.2 mU/l.h. Neither change was statistically significant. Hypothyroid subjects had a peak mean level of 5.0 +/- 2.7 mU/l and integrated GH of 5.9 +/- 1.7 mU/l.h and when euthyroid a peak mean level of 7.1 +/- 4.8 mU/l and integrated GH of 8.1 +/- 3.6 mU/l.h. Body weight did not change significantly in this group of hypothyroid subjects with prolonged treatment. The increase in GH response to GHRH previously reported following replacement therapy may reflect a treatment-induced decrease in body weight, or may be a short term effect.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Patients' adjustment to cancer: the Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) scale vs clinical ratings.

Broad categories of adjustment to cancer were originally identified clinically. Subsequently, a self-rating questionnaire--the MAC (Mental Adjustment to Cancer) scale--was developed to measure these categories of adjustment. We report here a validation study of the MAC scale. Fifty-four consecutively referred patients with various cancers were given the MAC scale. The patients' adjustment to cancer was also rated clinically by two psychiatrists who had no knowledge of the MAC scale scores. Statistical comparisons between these scores and the clinical ratings are reported. The level of agreement obtained was 79%--Kappa 0.72.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Rotator cuff function in the impingement syndrome.

Thirty-three patients with impingement syndrome of the rotator cuff were studied before and at operation. It was shown that the rotator cuff lengthens and twists during elevation of the arm. Elevation is achieved by early glenohumeral abduction and continuous flexion and external rotation. The range of free rotation at the glenohumeral joint diminishes progressively during elevation. Rotator cuff impingement occurs towards the end of the early glenohumeral abduction. Excision arthroplasty of the acromioclavicular joint and anterior acromioplasty is highly effective for impingement under the acromion, but only moderately effective where impingement is under the acromioclavicular joint.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Drug use and policy in Poland in the 1980s.

In this article, the author describes the recent changes in patterns of drug use in Poland in the light of available data. A much higher incidence of use has been seen in the 1980s, and there are indications that this can be accounted for by increased use among young people from the manual working class. Social deprivation may play a part in the etiology of the 1980s "epidemic," and evidence is put forward in support of this view. Both patterns of use and the policies that have been introduced to deal with them are viewed in terms of the political, economic, and social context of post-Solidarity perestroika.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Effects of time-compression on feature and frequency discrimination in aged listeners.

This study measured the ability of 16 aged listeners, normal for their age (age range, 63 to 84 yr.) to discriminate phonemic contrasts in sentential stimuli (Subtest 13 of the Carrow-Auditory Visual Abilities Test) presented at 50% time-compression rate. A series of linear regression analyses were performed in which each independent variable was regressed against the continuous variable of age. Over-all performance on the time-compressed task significantly decreased as a function of age. Also discrimination of place of articulation and mid- to high-frequency contrasts was significantly and negatively related to age. In general, such findings suggest that the course of aging continuously imposes degrading effects on speech-processing that are related to discrimination of place feature contrasts.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Maternal brain death and prolonged fetal survival.

A 30-year-old woman suffered massive brain injuries after a motor vehicle accident at 15 weeks' gestation. The patient was diagnosed as brain-dead on her tenth hospital day. She was supported with intensive care for 107 days after this diagnosis, and a normal 1555-g male infant was delivered at approximately 32 weeks' gestation by repeat cesarean section. The child is developing normally at 11 months of age. This represents the longest reported case of prolongation of pregnancy after brain death.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Reciprocal hindlimb scratching and putative subtype-selective muscarinic agents.

We have previously proposed that the reciprocal hindlimb scratching (RHS) of mice elicited by intrathecal injection of muscarinic agents is mediated by M1 muscarinic receptors. In this study, benzhexol potently inhibited pilocarpine-induced RHS (ID50 = 0.5 ng), methoctramine did not fully block RHS and RS 86 neither produced nor blocked RHS. These data (1) differentiate the three muscarinic agents using this in vivo endpoint, (2) substantiate binding studies characterizing benzhexol and methoctramine as putative M2 and M2 antagonists, respectively, and (3) further support using RHS for studying muscarinic agents.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive functioning in fragile X and non-fragile X retarded men.

The cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive functioning of 12 men with fragile X syndrome (aged 23 to 62 years) was systematically assessed and compared to two matched groups of retarded men without fragile X syndrome residing at the same institution. The fragile X group was largely indistinguishable from the comparison groups on the cognitive, behavioral, and adaptive measures. Fragile X patients were, however, significantly more likely to have achieved levels of adaptive functioning commensurate with their intellectual abilities. Fragile X subjects who had similarly affected siblings emerged as significantly higher-functioning in all areas than Fragile X subjects who did not have affected siblings. These findings are discussed with respect to future research.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

Development of a questionnaire measure of adjustment to cancer: the MAC scale.

This paper describes the development of a self-rating scale to measure adjustment to cancer. The Mental Adjustment to Cancer (MAC) Scale has been completed by 235 patients with various types and stages of cancer. It is easily understood by, and acceptable to, patients. Data relating to reliability and internal consistency indicate that the MAC scale is a valuable research tool for clinical studies of patients' psychological adjustment to cancer.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1988

The intact human neuroblastoma cell (SH-SY5Y) exhibits high-affinity [3H]pirenzepine binding associated with hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositols.

The binding of [3H]pirenzepine to a human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) and its correlation with hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositols were characterized. Specific [3H]pirenzepine binding to intact cells was rapid, reversible, saturable, and of high affinity. Kinetic studies yielded association (k+1) and dissociation (k-1) rate constants of 5.2 +/- 1.4 X 10(6) M-1 min-1 and 1.1 +/- 0.06 X 10(-1) min-1, respectively. Saturation experiments revealed a single class of binding sites (nH = 1.1) for the radioligand with a total binding capacity of 160 +/- 33 fmol/mg protein and an apparent dissociation constant of 13 nM. The specific [3H]pirenzepine binding was inhibited by the presence of selected muscarinic drugs. The order of antagonist potency was atropine sulfate greater than pirenzepine greater than AF-DX 116, with K0.5 of 0.53 nM, 2.2 nM, and 190 nM, respectively. The binding properties of [3H](-)-quinuclidinyl benzilate and its quaternary derivative [3H](-)-methylquinuclidinyl benzilate were also investigated. The muscarinic agonist carbachol stimulated formation of inositol phosphates which could be inhibited by muscarinic antagonists. The inhibition constants of pirenzepine and AF-DX 116 were 11 nM and 190 nM, respectively. In conclusion, we show that the nonclassical muscarinic receptor antagonist [3H]pirenzepine identifies a high-affinity population of muscarinic sites which is associated with hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositols in this human neuroblastoma cell line.

Atropine↗
PubMed1987

A comparison of language characteristics of mentally retarded adults with fragile X syndrome and those with nonspecific mental retardation and autism.

Fragile X syndrome is a recently identified form of mental retardation that is associated with a chromosomal abnormality and inherited in an X-linked manner. Previous studies have suggested that distinctive speech and language characteristics are associated with the syndrome. Twelve adult male residents of an institution for the retarded (aged 23 to 51 years) were compared on a series of speech and language measures to 12 adult males with nonspecific forms of MR who were residents of the same institution and were matched on age and IQ. A second contrast group consisted of similarly matched autistic men. Results revealed that there were no significant differences among the groups' performance, with the exception of increased rates of echolalia in the autistic group. A nonsignificant trend toward poorer performance on expressive measures on the part of the fragile X group was noted. The implications of these findings for further research on the syndrome are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Amplification and deregulation of MYC following Epstein-Barr virus infection of a human B-cell line.

In Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive Burkitt lymphoma (BL) the role of EBV in the translocation and deregulation of the MYC oncogene remains unknown. By utilizing an EBV-negative BL (BJAB) and several EBV-positive sublines derived from it by in vitro infection, it was possible to show that the presence of the virus was associated with altered expression and copy number of MYC. In the EBV-negative BJAB line, the level of MYC transcripts declined progressively as cells approached the stationary phase of growth. In contrast, in EBV-infected BJAB cells MYC expression remained elevated as cells entered stationary phase. This effect on MYC expression was reversibly linked to the presence of the virus. Furthermore, following EBV infection of BJAB cells by two different strains of EBV, amplification of MYC in association with the appearance of a homogeneously staining region on chromosome 8 at the mapped location of MYC had occurred. These studies suggest that both the deregulation of MYC transcription and the chromosomal rearrangement in the region of the MYC locus in this B-cell line may have occurred as a result of EBV infection.

Antigens, Viral↗