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Biomedical subjects

N J Miller

Publications and source records attributed to N J Miller.

53 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

A novel method for measuring antioxidant capacity and its application to monitoring the antioxidant status in premature neonates.

1. A new method has been developed for measuring the total antioxidant capacity of body fluids and drug solutions, based on the absorbance of the ABTS.+ radical cation. 2. An automated method for use on a centrifugal analyser, as well as a manual method, is described. 3. The procedure has been applied to physiological antioxidant compounds and radical-scavenging drugs, and an antioxidant ranking was established based on their reactivity relative to a 1.0 mmol/l Trolox standard. 4. The Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity of plasma from an adult reference population has been measured, and the method optimized and validated. 5. The method has been applied to investigate the total plasma antioxidant capacity of neonates and how this may be compromised in prematurity.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Consideration on some hormone binding proteins patterns during pregnancy.

Serum concentrations of sex hormone binding globulin, transcortin, thyroxine binding globulin, transthyretin together with retinol binding protein, ceruloplasmin, transferrin and albumin were measured sequentially in pregnant women in order to derive more definite suppositions relating to the prime function of hormone binding proteins. Thus, the fact that except for transthyretin all other specific hormone binding proteins exhibited appreciable but significantly variable increases would suggest: a) the apparent existence of more complex mechanisms regulating protein metabolism during pregnancy than hitherto postulated (i.e. the general notion of an integrated estrogen influence); b) a major and distinctive role for each of the hormone binding proteins is plausible since alterations in hormonal requirements by the fetus as pregnancy progresses can not be provided by the almost constant transplacental transfer rate of the "free" hormone moiety.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

An evaluation of the acute in vivo toxicity of benzylidenechroman-4-ones, 1-thiobenzylidenechroman-4-ones and benzylidenetetralones.

A series of new compounds were evaluated for acute in vivo toxicity. Their synthesis and antifungal activity have previously been described by us. The naturally occurring class of compounds to which they belong - the benzylidenechroman-4-ones - have been identified as a potential source of new antifungal agents. These compounds were found to be less toxic, as judged by acute toxicity, than existing commercially available antifungals. A number of conclusions can be drawn about the relationship of structural changes in this series of compounds to increases or decreases in acute toxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Hearing in the elderly: the Framingham cohort, 1983-1985. Part I. Basic audiometric test results.

Many studies have documented the decline in auditory function with age. We broaden that data base in this the first of a series of reports emanating from the auditory testing of the Framingham cohort during biennial exam 18. The results of the auditory questionnaire, hearing sensitivity, acoustic compliance measures, and word recognition tests obtained from 1662 men and women in their 60th through 90th decades are presented. Pure-tone thresholds increased with age but the rate of change with age did not differ by gender even though men had poorer threshold sensitivity. Maximum word recognition ability declined with age more rapidly in men than in women and was poorer in men than in women at all ages. Acoustic compliance and middle ear pressure did not vary with gender or age. Acoustic reflex thresholds to a contralateral stimulus at 1 kHz increased slightly with age, more in women than in men; ipsilateral acoustic reflex thresholds did not vary with age or gender. Hearing aids were being used in only 10% of subjects likely to benefit from amplification.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗
PubMed1984

Ions purify patient's air.

A New York psychiatric center sought means to both rid a geriatrics' lounge of unpleasant orders and clear an out-patient program's hall of tobacco smoke. Many devices were tried, including scented mop water and ceiling vents. Small "air cleaners" were found to be ineffective; electrostatic air cleaners would be both expensive and troublesome. Ceiling mounted ion generators have done the job, are cost effective, simple, and unobtrusive. No behavioral side effects have been noticed. The Center is now experimenting with a device which negatively charges a whole room.

Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299↗
PubMed1984

Anticipatory nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy.

Fifty adult oncology outpatients receiving chemotherapy were surveyed to assess their experiences with chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting. Of patients who noted post-chemotherapy nausea with or without vomiting, 46% reported anticipatory nausea. The anticipatory symptoms developed after the onset of post-chemotherapy neausea. Patients experiencing anticipatory symptoms had received chemotherapy over a significantly longer period of time than had the patients with post-treatment nausea only. Of these patients who had noted post-chemotherapy nausea with or without vomiting for two or more months, 50% reported pre-treatment nausea with or without vomiting. There was no tendency toward anticipatory symptoms according to age, sex, race, educational level, disease, or type of chemotherapy. Thoughts of chemotherapy, sights, specific odors and tastes evoked anticipatory symptoms. Pre-treatment or anticipatory nausea and vomiting are probably a manifestation of classical (Pavlovian) conditioning.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Burn care: a social work perspective.

The psychosocial problems of people who have been severely burned are many and severe. Written according to the outline followed by the articles in Health and Social Work's November 1981 Supplement on Specialization and Specialty Interests, this article describes the complexities of burn treatment and the key role of the social worker in burn care.

Aged↗
PubMed1981

A patient with post-hepatitis B immune deficiency: nonspecific helper factor partially restores the in vitro immune response.

A patient with severe post-hepatitis B aplastic anemia had depressed B and T cell responses. In mixed leukocyte culture, her cell were unresponsive to unrelated control stimulating cells, but responded well to a pool of cells from the same unrelated controls. She had reduced production of lymphocyte mitogenic factor (MF), suggesting a helper cell defect, and she had few or no cells reactive with the monoclonal anti-T cell antibodies OKT3, OKT4 or OKT5. Her cells proliferated in response to MF produced by a pool of cells without mitogen, however. Furthermore, her cells became specifically cytotoxic when stimulated by cells plus MF, but not when stimulated by either cells or MF alone. Thus her T cell deficiency was correctable by nonspecific helper factor in vitro.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

Plasma pancreatic and salivary-type amylase and immunoreactive trypsin concentrations: variations with age and reference ranges for children.

The differential alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.1.1) assay was applied to 166 control children in the age range 0.1--13 years. Circulating levels of both pancreatic and salivary-type amylase were very low (mean 20 U/l) in the first four months of life. Pancreatic levels increased gradually with age, reaching adult levels (mean 74 U/l) by the age of eight years. Salivary amylase levels showed a sharp rise in the 0.9--1.9 year period reaching maximum levels (mean 99 U/l) by age 5--6 years. While linear regression analysis showed significant correlation between age of subject and pancreatic and salivary amylase levels, no such correlation was evident between age and plasma immunoreactive trypsin levels over the age range studied. Plasma trypsin levels in children were lower than reported adult values. Reference ranges for pancreatic and salivary-type amylase and immunoreactive trypsin in children are presented. The importance of age-matching, when pancreatic amylase and plasma trypsin are being investigated in children, is emphasised.

Aging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol as an antiemetic for patients receiving cancer chemotherapy. A pilot study.

We conducted a pilot study to ascertain the potential toxicity and possible efficacy of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at the oral dose of 5 mg/m2. Over one third of the study population, which consisted of 25 patients, reported significant dysphoric reactions. Four patients (16 per cent) elected not to take THC rather than experience loss of motivation which interfered with their professional life. Paradoxically, on eight occasions nausea seemed to worsen with THC. After the first administration of THC, 18 patients (72 per cent) described less nausea and only two individuals (8 per cent) noted complete resolution of nausea. Two patients reported worsening of their nausea. Eighteen patients noted less vomiting (69 per cent) after the first administration of THC and four patients (15 per cent) reported completed resolution of their vomiting. By the third administration of THC, one of 14 patients (7 per cent) and two of 14 (14 per cent) noted complete alleviation of nausea and vomiting, respectively. Patients who scored high on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, who reported euphoria, or who had psychogenic nausea and vomiting were most likely to have a favorable antiemetic response. The results of this pilot study suggest that orally administered THC is a toxic but transiently effective antiemetic when administered at 5 mg/m2.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Antioxidant activity of saliva and periodontal disease.

The antioxidant activity of saliva has been investigated in 28 apparently healthy individuals and seven dental patients with periodontal disease. The results show that the major aqueous antioxidant component of whole saliva is uric acid, with lesser contributions from ascorbic acid and albumin. All are present at lower concentrations than those found in the plasma water. The total antioxidant activity (TAA) of saliva correlates (r2 = 0.972) with the concentration of uric acid, which contributes more than 70% of the TAA. Stimulation of salivary flow is associated with increased production of antioxidants. The antioxidant potential of saliva does not appear to be compromised in patients with periodontal disease but this may relate to the antioxidant flow from the gingival crevicular fluid.

Adult↗