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Biomedical subjects

P Reilly

Publications and source records attributed to P Reilly.

89 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Effects of alpha-MSH on motivation, vigilance and brain respiration.

In a series of experiments designed to assess the effects of alpha-MSH on various motivational processes, it was observed that the hormone can slightly decrease food intake and increase water consumption during the first hr after administration in rats. alpha-MSH also modified avoidance behavior in 1- and 3-day-old chicks, but there were no reliable effects on activity, distress vocalizations and the tonic immobility response. alpha-MSH appeared to modulate the sleep-waking activity of rats, and the most prominent effect was an increase of slow wave sleep during the 2-3 rd hr after treatment. A possible second effect was a homogenization of sleep patterns--with poor sleepers exhibiting increases of activated sleep and good sleepers a reduction. Measurement of in vitro brain oxygen consumption indicated that mice treated with alpha-MSH exhibit an 18% reduction in respiration of the brain stem section which includes the locus coeruleus, but did not reliably change respiration in forebrain cortices. alpha-MSH also produced a modest 14% increase of plasma glucose. These results are discussed in terms of possible modulation by alpha-MSH of activity in central autonomic cell groups such as the locus coeruleus.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Medial and lateral hypothalamic oxygen consumption as a function of age, starvation and glucose administration in rats.

In fed rats, in vitro oxygen consumption of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) was found to be reliably higher than that of the lateral hypothalamus (LHA), and this differential effect was abolished by prior food deprivation. Neither body weight (236-569 g) nor age (50-180 days old) was important in determining the magnitude of differential respiration of these hypothalamic subareas. VMH respiration was found to be especially responsive to intragastric administration of glucose-oxygen consumption increasing 94% above baseline levels in VMH, with only a 28% increment occurring in the LHA. Using various delays between loading of glucose and testing, the VMH-LHA ratio in oxygen consumption was found to be inversely related to food intake. Implications of these findings to the nature of hypothalamic control of feeding are discussed.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1975

The "new" genetics: emerging medicolegal issues in the prenatal issues in the prenatal diagnosis of hereditary disorders.

Major advances in prenatal genetic diagnosis have occurred in the past few years which pose difficult challenges to the law. This paper raises questions relative to family history taking, genetic counseling, carrier detection, amniocentesis, and prenatal genetic studies, and also raises questions with respect to the rights and responsibilities of the patient, the fetus, the physician, and society in light of such modern advances. Law reform often occurs only after prior harm to an individual, family or group. Perception and delineation of the most important issues in this area should serve to stimulate the development of medicolegal guidelines and corrective legislation prior to the occurrence of a genetic tragedy.

Amniocentesis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Where do patients with cancer die in Belfast?

BACKGROUND: Most patients with cancer prefer to die at home but the majority die in institutions. AIM: To determine place of death for patients with cancer in Belfast, to examine changes over time and identify factors associated with place of death. METHODS: A survey of deaths registered in Belfast over a six-month period for 1977, 1987 and 1997 identified patients dying from cancer. Epidemiological data included age, gender, malignancy, social class, marital status, area of residence and place of death. RESULTS: Home deaths fell from 35% in 1977 to 28% in 1997. Hospital deaths fell from 50% in 1977 to 40% in 1987 rising to 42% in 1997. Hospice deaths rose from 13% in 1977 to 25% in 1987 falling to 23% in 1997. There was an association between place of death and age, marital status, type of cancer and area of residence, but not with social class or gender. CONCLUSION: The majority of people fail to achieve a home death. Resources need to be targeted to those most at risk of an institutional death; females, the elderly, the unmarried, those with haematological malignancies and residents of South Belfast.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Coracoacromial ligament tension in vivo.

Tension in the coracoacromial (CA) ligament has been postulated as the mechanism of acromial spur formation. Five patients (mean age, 58 years) undergoing open rotator cuff repair were recruited. A differential variable reluctance transducer (DVRT) was inserted into the CA ligament parallel to the fiber orientation. The DVRT measured linear displacement as the glenohumeral joint was moved through 90 degrees of abduction and full internal/external rotation. The CA ligament was then removed with the DVRT in situ. The specimen was mounted on a material-testing machine. Load was applied in the line of the CA ligament fibers, and the DVRT output recorded. The CA ligament was found to be under tension, which was lowest with the arm adducted (mean, 8.9 N; range, 3.7-22 N) and highest in abduction (mean, 15.7 N; range, 6.5-38 N). This study confirms CA ligament tension in vivo as a possible stimulus for acromial spur formation.

Acromion↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Integration of concurrent trauma registry and performance improvement programs.

Health information management systems have had a tremendous impact on the delivery of healthcare. The implementation of an integrated, concurrent trauma registry and performance improvement system has had a remarkable impact on the University of Pennsylvania's trauma program. Having both the registry and performance improvement programs concurrent and integrated has allowed better utilization of staff and has produced more accurate, relevant and timely data.

Hospital Information Systems↗