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Biomedical subjects

N Murray

Publications and source records attributed to N Murray.

141 records · Page 8Linked to original sources
PubMed1983

Demyelinating neuropathy and monoclonal IgM antibody to myelin-associated glycoprotein.

We studied a patient with demyelinating neuropathy and monoclonal IgM kappa antibody to the major myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG). Binding of this monoclonal antibody to the myelin antigen was demonstrated by immunoelectroblot. Binding to MAG seemed to be specific, because it was completely inhibited by MAG isolated from human myelin. Immunostaining was observed with MAG from CNS and peripheral nervous system myelin.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1983

Treatment outcomes in a day treatment program.

A sample of 63 psychiatric patients consecutively admitted to an adult day treatment program was evaluated with the Colorado Client Assessment Record (CCAR) within 2 weeks of their admission, at regular 90-day intervals, and/or upon discharge from the program. Trained raters using the CCAR made functional assessment ratings of patients on nine behaviorally-anchored scales. A unique feature of this study was that patients' primary therapists were asked to identify the three CCAR dimensions which represented their targeted treatment goals. Purposes of this study were twofold. The first concern was to establish the validity of this instrument in monitoring the level of functioning of a young and chronically impaired sample. The second goal was to assess the clinical outcome of patients in the day treatment program. Results showed the CCAR to be a valid measure of patients' level of functioning. Further results indicated that the functional ratings on the three targeted treatment goals exhibited statistically significant improvement from admission to follow-up or discharge. Findings further suggest that patients' motivation for treatment at the time of admission may be important for achieving successful clinical outcome. This investigation, by establishing the validity and utility of the CCAR for a chronically impaired psychiatric population, lays the foundation for continued monitoring of clinical outcome and program evaluation.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Amplified music and young people's hearing. Review and report of Australian findings.

We gave 944 young people (aged 16 to 20 years) pure-tone audiometry, electroacoustic impedance tests, and ear, nose and throat examination. We questioned them about their histories of exposure to occupational and recreational noise. The data do not support the view that there is wide-spread hearing loss caused by exposure to amplified music in young people under the age of 21 years. However, the accumulated exposure of some of them to noise is such that, if their recreational patterns remain the same, they are at risk of some noise-induced hearing loss by their mid-twenties. Further empirical studies are necessary to determine whether these hearing losses will eventuate.

Acoustic Impedance Tests↗
PubMed1982

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: electrophysiological evidence for a humoral factor.

Noncarcinomatous Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) often associates with autoimmune disorders. A course of plasma exchange in both carcinomatous and noncarcinomatous LEMS induced clinical and significant electromyographic improvement which reached its peak 10 to 20 days after the last exchange. Prednisolone and azathioprine treatment was associated with striking clinical and electromyographic improvement in the 3 noncarcinomatous patients. The IgG fraction of LEMS plasma, and to a lesser extent plasma itself, injected daily intraperitoneally into mice induced similar electrophysiological changes to human LEMS, the reduction in the quantal content of the end-plate potential (epp) in diaphragm being highly significant. A train of stimuli at 40 Hz produced early facilitation or a less marked decline in epp amplitudes than occurred in mice injected with control IgG. The results indicate that the electrophysiological abnormalities in both forms of LEMS arise from an IgG autoantibody that binds to nerve terminal determinants which are concerned with the quantal release of transmitter.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Autoimmune aetiology for myasthenic (Eaton-Lambert) syndrome.

The myasthenic (Eaton-Lambert) syndrome, associated with carcinoma of the bronchus in one patient and with immunological disorders in two others, improved after plasma exchange--observations supported by electromyographic evidence in two cases. Prednisolone and azathioprine treatment led to almost complete remission in one of the non-neoplastic cases and to improvement in the other. The IgG fraction of plasma from all three patients, injected daily (10 mg) into mice for 37-77 days, significantly reduced the initial compound muscle action potential and the quantal content of the end-plate potential measured in the diaphragm, when compared with control human IgG. These results indicate that an IgG autoantibody, binding to nerve terminal determinants, may be responsible for the disorder of neuromuscular transmission in the myasthenic syndrome, and that immunosuppressive drugs may be useful in treating the nonneoplastic form of the disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Studies on the disposition of Li+ in the guinea-pig and rat.

Rats and guinea-pigs were given LiCl acutely (2 mmol/kg IP or intragastrically) or chronically (daily doses 0.6-4 mmol/kg) and plasma, erythrocytes, kidney, liver and brain were analysed for Li+. Generally, after acute LiCl, tissue Li+ levels followed changes in plasma Li+ levels. However, brain Li+ concentrations changed more slowly and in the rat, but not in the guinea-pig, paralleled erythrocyte Li+ concentrations. Li+ was absorbed more slowly from the gastrointestinal tract of the rat. After chronic LiCl, the erythrocyte:plasma Li+ ratio was about 0.1 in the guinea-pig and about 2 in the rat. Relative Li+ tissue concentrations were as follows: guinea-pig, plasma greater than kidney greater than liver greater than brain greater than erythrocyte;rat much greater than erythrocyte = brain greater than liver = plasma. A Na+-dependent Li+ efflux was demonstrated in the erythrocytes of the guinea-pig and human, but not the rat. This process was inhibited by phloretin (0.2 mM), but not frusemide (2.0 mM). The marked differences in the activity of the erythrocyte Na+-dependent Li+ countertransport process in the guinea-pig and rat could extend to other tissues and explain the observed interspecies differences in tissue Li+ distribution.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

The relations of eye colour and smoking to noise-induced permanent threshold shift.

The hearing of 118 otologically normal soldiers 40 years of age or less with at least 8 years service was tested. Their eye colours were also recorded. Each soldier was questioned concerning his medical history, history of noise exposure and smoking habits. Left ear average hearing levels at 3 kHz were poorer in soldiers with eye colours indicating no melanin pigmentation of the iris than those with iris pigmentation (p < 0.05). Effects of smoking were statistically significant at one frequency but difficult to interpret in terms of current theories.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia type II (HEMPAS): a family study.

A family having two affected siblings with congenital dyserythropoietic anaemia type II (HEMPAS) is described. The proband was diagnosed after referral for investigation of haemolytic anaemia. Clinical evaluation and in vivo red cell (RBC) survival and the sequestration studies in the proband indicated that the anaemia was due to a combination of ineffective erythropoiesis and premature destruction of RBCs in the spleen. Scanning electron microscopic examination of peripheral RBCs was undertaken and is reported. The polypeptide composition of RBC membranes was also examined using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after solubilisation in sodium dodecyl sulphate. These results are also reported.

Anemia, Dyserythropoietic, Congenital↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The impact of fertility intentions on behavior: the case of sterilization.

In this paper, we take a new approach to the question of whether or not intentions regarding future fertility affect fertility-related behavior. Our approach has three principal features: 1) it takes sterilization as its outcome, rather than pregnancy or birth; 2) it is based on a conceptual model in which fertility-related behavior is seen as determined by a long-range planning process, modified by unanticipated life course contingencies; and 3) it uses data on desired total family size. Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households, we find that achieving one's desired parity has a strong, persistent, and positive effect on the probability of sterilization, supporting our view of the long-term nature of fertility intentions. People do modify their behavior in the face of unanticipated contingencies, but those effects are unexpectedly small.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Does the presentation of audiometric test data have a positive effect on the perceptions of workplace noise and noise exposure avoidance?

Research and 'common knowledge' has for many years accepted that education and feedback supplied to individuals during and immediately after workplace health assessments provides valuable information to workers about their health. Further, if more relevant and detailed information could be supplied then awareness and preventative action may increase proportionately. This research carried out with a rural Australian population has shown that preventative action did not increase in proportion to a corresponding increase in the amount and variety of information provided in connection with hearing health status. Two research groups underwent hearing tests, both with pure tone audiometry (PTA) while the second group also underwent otoacoustic emission (OAE) testing. Test results were presented to the subjects at the conclusion of their test session. An analysis of questionnaire responses at six week and twelve months follow up showed that more information did not result in increased preventative action. Barriers seem to exist such that individuals feel that they are not able to effectively act to reduce overall noise exposure. While self-efficacy initially increased, it declined to close to its initial value over the longer period. Other measures such as perceived susceptibility to hearing loss and the benefits of exposure reduction significantly increased and remained at the same increased level after twelve months. So, while overall awareness of noise and the risks of exposure were increased after both types of hearing test there was no increased hearing health benefit due to additional testing and hearing information.

Adult↗