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Biomedical subjects

P Morris

Publications and source records attributed to P Morris.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Neuroimaging and affective disorder in late life: a review.

Within the past two decades brain imaging techniques have given the clinician access to new anatomical and functional findings for dealing with affective disorder in the older age group. Despite the proliferation of such technology, the significance of findings on computerized axial tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) remains unclear in this patient group. The literature covering old age depression and imaging techniques is reviewed, and problems related to methodology, sample selection, and implications for the direction of future research are discussed. Current evidence particularly suggests that subcortical atrophy may be an important factor in the genesis of affective disorder in old age. The question of cognitive decline in the setting of affective disorder is examined. The use of brain imaging techniques may have particular bearing upon identification of etiology of affective disorder, prediction of treatment response, or risk of relapse.

Aged↗
PubMed1990

Early diagnosed chronic illness and mother-child relationships in the first two years.

As part of a longitudinal study, children in three groups (healthy, n = 33; cystic fibrosis (CF) n = 28; congenital heart disease (CHD) n = 23) were seen between the ages of 12 and 18 months to assess infant-mother attachment and at two years to observe parent-child negotiation of autonomy/dependence in a puzzle task. Although the healthy group included the highest proportion of securely attached infants and the CHD group the lowest, the distribution of attachment patterns did not differ significantly between groups, or between any of the groups and established norms. At two years the healthy children had the most positive experience in the puzzle task while the children in the CF group had the least positive experience. When diagnostic groups were divided according to prior attachment status, the data for the healthy group were consistent with the prediction that securely attached children would have the most positive mother-child interaction at age two. This was not the case in either of the medically diagnosed groups. These data suggest that the influence of the early parent-child relationship may be altered by a child's health status. We may need different models to account for development in healthy and medically compromised children.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Dose-response curves for suxamethonium in neonates, infants and children.

Single dose-response curves were determined for suxamethonium in neonates, infants and children during thiopentone-fentanyl-nitrous oxide anaesthesia. During onset of neuromuscular block, suxamethonium produced an increase in muscle tone which was greatest in neonates and infants. The dose-response curves for the three groups were parallel. The effective doses producing 90% depression of twitch height were significantly greater in neonates and infants compared with children (517 and 608 v. 352 micrograms kg-1). These values were greater than those obtained in a comparable study in adults. In view of their higher ED values compared with adults and a marked individual variability in response to small doses of suxamethonium, we recommend an intubating dose of 3 mg kg-1 for neonates and infants and 2 mg kg-1 for children. These doses are 50-100% greater than those previously recommended for paediatric patients.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1989

A comparison of low-dose maintenance treatment with enprostil against ranitidine in the prevention of duodenal ulcer recurrence.

Enprostil, a prostaglandin E2 analogue, is effective in healing acute duodenal ulcer but its value in preventing recurrence, when given daily for maintenance therapy, is uncertain. In this three-centre study we compared enprostil and ranitidine maintenance therapy; the latter is known to reduce duodenal ulcer relapse rates. Patients whose duodenal ulcers had been healed by treatment with an H2-receptor antagonist were randomized to receive single-blind treatment with either 35 micrograms enprostil (n = 64) or 150 mg ranitidine (n = 64) at bedtime for periods of up to 1 year. Endoscopy was routinely performed at 3 months at one centre, and at 6 and 12 months at all three centres, or whenever ulcer symptoms recurred. Clinical assessment and laboratory investigations were performed every 3 months. Relapse, defined as recurrent ulcer with or without pain, or erosions with pain, was significantly greater in patients on enprostil, the comparative rates at 3, 6 and 12 months were: enprostil 23, 31 and 36% ranitidine 6, 12 and 17% (P = 0.013; P = 0.03 and P = 0.03, respectively). Thirty-one patients reported adverse events, the most common being headache (enprostil = 6, ranitidine = 2) and mild diarrhoea (enprostil = 6, ranitidine = 0). Four patients on enprostil were withdrawn for adverse events, although none terminated because of diarrhoea. There were no clinically significant changes in haematology or biochemistry. Enprostil may reduce duodenal ulcer relapse but at a dose of 35 micrograms nightly, it is less effective than 150 mg ranitidine nightly.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Recovery from anaesthesia in children.

There are no published comprehensive surveys of paediatric recovery room experience and the incidence of complications. A prospective survey was made of 16,700 consecutive admissions to the recovery room at the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital during the years 1985-1988. The incidence of respiratory complications was low, with laryngospasm 0.85%. The incidence of hypotension was higher than that in adult studies; over 50% of children recorded a decrease in blood pressure in the recovery room of more than 20%, compared to values before operation. The incidence of vomiting in the recovery room was also lower than in comparable adult studies. Certain aspects of recovery room practice changed during the 4 years of the study; these included routine oxygen administration, parents in the recovery room, and our approach to postoperative analgesia. The implications of these changes are discussed.

Anesthesia Recovery Period↗
PubMed1989

Monoclonal antibody against the lupus antigen Sm cross-reacts with RNA polymerase I.

Monoclonal anti-Sm antibody, a specificity directed against a constituent of nuclear ribonucleoprotein and considered to be a marker for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), was tested for its ability to react with four other rheumatic disease antigens of known enzymatic activity. No binding of the antibody was observed in radioimmunoassays with immobilized protein kinase NII, poly(A) polymerase, or topoisomerase I. In contrast, anti-Sm antibody did react with RNA polymerase I. Under conditions of antibody excess, anti-Sm was determined to bind RNA polymerase I on an equimolar basis, indicating that the polymerase possesses a single epitope recognized by the anti-Sm antibody. Addition of the anti-Sm antibody to in vitro transcription reactions resulted in inhibition of RNA polymerase I activity but had no effect on the reaction catalyzed by RNA polymerase II. When the subunits of RNA polymerase I were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions and incorporated individually into the radioimmunoassay, anti-Sm antibody bound only to the sixth polymerase polypeptide (Mr, 21,000). These data establish an immunological relationship between two important rheumatic disease antigens and help explain the apparent diversity of the autoimmune response in murine and human SLE.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Diurnal weight gain among patients with mental retardation.

We compared the diurnal weight gain of 46 patients with mental retardation to that of 21 patients with organic mental syndromes. They were weighed at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekly for 3 weeks. We normalized the diurnal weight gain as a percentage by subtracting the 7 a.m. weight from the 4 p.m. weight, multiplying the difference by 100, and dividing the result by the 7 a.m. weight. Normalized diurnal weight gain was abnormal among one fourth of patients with mental retardation and two thirds of those with organic mental syndromes. Differences in age, sex, baseline weight, antipsychotic drugs, lithium, carbamazepine, blood pressure, and pulse did not explain our results. We believe that our findings provide additional evidence to separate patients with mental retardation from those with psychosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Isolation of rat/rat T cell hybrids using W/Fu C58(NT)D as fusion partner.

Functional rat/rat T cell hybrids were isolated for the first time by the fusion of spleen cells from rats tolerized to the hapten TNP to a HAT-sensitive rat thymoma (C58(NT)D). 11 fusions using different protocols were attempted to assess the optimal conditions for high hybridization frequency of the desired specificity. Interestingly, the cell density requirement of the non-transformed fusion partner took precedence over that of the C58 cell line, i.e., rat cells needed to be at high density after fusion, but others have reported that mouse cells prefer a much lower density even when the same line (C58) is used. Six fusions yielded hybridomas with between 3% and 70% of wells containing hybrids after three weeks of culture, depending on the protocol used. Phenotypically, all of the hybrids and clones tested expressed the W3/25 (rat CD4) antigen, but no OX-8 (rat CD8) or immunoglobulin molecules. A minority of hybrids were found to secrete factors able to suppress (a) proliferation, (b) antibody production, and (c) cells bearing IL-2 receptors, but none appeared to suppress the production of IL-2 itself. In contrast to non-transformed rat T cell lines, the T hybrids isolated were easy to grow to high densities, clone and freeze without the need to add exogenous antigen or lymphokines to the cultures at any stage.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Comparison of atracurium-induced neuromuscular blockade in neonates, infants and children.

The potency of atracurium was determined in neonates, infants and children during thiopentone-fentanyl-nitrous oxide in oxygen anaesthesia using single dose-response curves. The effective doses producing 50% depression of the first twitch of the train-of-four were significantly lower in neonates and infants than in children (82 and 112 v. 135 micrograms kg-1). Following a standard dose of atracurium 0.5 mg kg-1, 95% depression of the first twitch occurred more rapidly in neonates than in children (0.9 v. 1.4 min), while recovery to 10% of the control twitch height occurred more rapidly in neonates than in the other two groups (22.7 v. 29.7 and 28.6 min). It is concluded that neonates and infants require less atracurium to produce a given degree of neuromuscular blockade compared with older children. However, prompt recovery can be expected in all healthy paediatric patients following a standard intubating dose of atracurium 0.5 mg kg-1.

Anesthesia, General↗
PubMed1988

A comparison of enprostil and ranitidine in treatment of duodenal ulcer.

Enprostil is a new synthetic prostaglandin E2 with antisecretory and mucosal-protective effects. We compared it with ranitidine in the healing of duodenal ulcer and also examined the subsequent relapse rate. Three hundred thirteen patients were recruited in 15 centers in Europe, of whom 158 were treated with enprostil (E) 35 micrograms twice daily and 155 with ranitidine (R) 150 mg twice daily for up to 6 weeks, using a double-blind method. Patients in both groups were of comparable demography. Healing was significantly quicker with ranitidine. Of patients randomized to treatment, healing (intention-to-treat analysis) at 4 weeks was E 47% and R 69%, and at 6 weeks it was E 66% and R 88%. In patients who met all protocol criteria and completed treatment, healing at 4 weeks was E 58% and R 80%, and at 6 weeks it was E 81% and R 92%. Early relief of pain, both during the day and at night, was significantly quicker with ranitidine. Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain occurred more often with enprostil. There were no clinically important abnormalities in hematology or biochemistry. Relapse rates were similar. In conclusion, enprostil is not as effective as ranitidine in healing duodenal ulcers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Fluctuations in intra-ocular pressure with sleep: I. Time course of IOP increase after the onset of sleep.

Ten normal subjects slept over a series of four nights for time periods of 30 minutes, 1, 2 and 4 hours. Intra-ocular pressure (IOP) measurements were made using a non-contact tonometer before and after sleep. The subjects showed a significant increase in IOP of 3.45 mm Hg after 30 minutes of sleep and a further IOP increase thereafter to 6.41 mm Hg above baseline. Such increases in IOP after sleep in normal subjects suggest that glaucoma patients and those suspected of having glaucoma should be monitored overnight to assess their IOP control mechanisms.

Data Interpretation, Statistical↗
PubMed1987

Food intake and selection after peripheral tryptophan.

Two studies investigated the effects of peripheral (IP) administration of the dietary indispensible amino acid tryptophan, on food intake and macronutrient selection in rats adapted to a 12 hr nocturnal feeding period and a choice of 10% and 60% casein diets. In a dose-response study (35, 55, 75, 95, 115 mg/kg), the threshold dose of 75 mg/kg produced a significant reduction in total food intake (3.6 to 2.3 g, p less than 0.05) during the first hour of feeding. The reduction in carbohydrate intake (2.1 vs. 1.2 g, p less than 0.05) was greater than that for protein intake (1.6 vs. 1.1 g, p less than 0.05). Twelve hr total food intake was also decreased (20.9 to 19.5 g, p less than 0.05) and this was attributable to decreased carbohydrate intake (13.2 to 11.8 g, p less than 0.05). In a second study designed to determine if tryptophan's effects were mediated by the central nervous system, brain tryptophan uptake was blocked by co-injecting valine with tryptophan. The significant reduction in first hour total food intake by tryptophan was not prevented by co-injection of an equal quantity of valine (3.5 to 1.8 g, p less than 0.05). Again the suppression of carbohydrate intake (2.0 to 0.9 g p less than 0.05) was greater than that for protein intake (1.5 to 0.9 g, p less than 0.05). This dose of valine significantly reduced brain tryptophan uptake by 16% (21.3 to 17.8 micrograms/g, p less than 0.05) and when administered alone did not affect first hour total food intake (3.1 vs 3.2 g).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗