Biomedical subjects

R A Page

Publications and source records attributed to R A Page.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1991

The importance of alcohol dehydrogenase in regulation of ethanol metabolism in rat liver cells.

We used titration with the inhibitors tetramethylene sulphoxide and isobutyramide to assess quantitatively the importance of alcohol dehydrogenase in regulation of ethanol oxidation in rat hepatocytes. In hepatocytes isolated from starved rats the apparent Flux Control Coefficient (calculated assuming a single-substrate irreversible reaction with non-competitive inhibition) of alcohol dehydrogenase is 0.3-0.5. Adjustment of this coefficient to allow for alcohol dehydrogenase being a two-substrate reversible enzyme increases the value by 1.3-1.4-fold. The final value of the Flux Control Coefficient of 0.5-0.7 indicates that alcohol dehydrogenase is a major rate-determining enzyme, but that other factors also have a regulatory role. In hepatocytes from fed rats the Flux Control Coefficient for alcohol dehydrogenase decreases with increasing acetaldehyde concentration. This suggests that, as acetaldehyde concentrations rise, control of the pathway shifts from alcohol dehydrogenase to other enzymes, particularly aldehyde dehydrogenase. There is not a single rate-determining step for the ethanol metabolism pathway and control is shared among several steps.

Acetaldehyde↗

PubMed1991

A comparison of the effects of standardized Chiasson and eye-closure inductions on susceptibility scores.

Numerous induction techniques have been described in the literature, many of which are standardized, facilitating their use in research. Recent studies have compared inductions for their effects on susceptibility scores (e.g., Spanos, Lush, Smith, & de Groh, 1986; Woolson, 1986), finding little or no differences. In the present study we tested a Chiasson (1973) induction technique (recently standardized) for its relative efficacy at inducing hypnosis as measured by the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale, Form A (SHSS:A) of Weitzenhoffer and Hilgard (1959). Subjects were 80 volunteer undergraduates at a midwestern university. We administered the SHSS:A using its standard eye-closure induction to half of the subjects; half were given the SHSS:A using the Chiasson induction. Following dehypnosis, all subjects gave a subjective rating of their depth. The results indicated that the two standard inductions have a comparable effectiveness as measured by susceptibility scores and subjective depth ratings.

Adult↗

PubMed1990

Psychogenic and physiological sequelae to hypnosis: two case reports.

Two cases of hypnotic sequelae occurring in a research context (with a non-clinical college population) are reported. Case 1 was a male who experienced retroactive amnesia following hypnosis: He was unable to recall familiar telephone numbers later that day. This was not a continuation of an earlier confusion or drowsiness (as is often found) since he indicated he was wide awake following hypnosis. Two parallels exist with previous reports: unpleasant childhood experiences with chemical anesthesia and a conflict involving a wish to experience hypnosis but a reluctance to relinquish control. Case 2 was a female who, while in hypnosis, experienced an apparent epileptic seizure that had characteristics of both petit mal and grand mal seizures. Although having a history of epilepsy, she had not had a seizure in 7 years. We suspect that the seizure was psychogenic and may have been triggered by wording used in the hypnotic scale or other similarities. Possible mechanisms are discussed and preventative recommendations are made.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1988

The effect of reducing petrol lead on airborne lead in Wales, U.K.

Airborne lead has been measured at four urban, one semi-urban and one rural site in Wales during 1984, 1985 and 1986 to assess the effect of the reduction in lead additives in petrol which was required by an EC Directive at the beginning of 1986. The results showed a 52-61% fall in air lead in accord with the 63% reduction in petrol lead.

Air Pollutants↗

PubMed1988

An attempt to induce lower moral reasoning under hypnotic and task-motivated age regression.

In this study, we attempted to partially replicate and extend the findings of the Page (1985) study of hypnotic age regression and moral reasoning. The Kohlberg (1976) Moral Judgment Interview (MJI) was used to assess the initial stage of moral reasoning in 32 adults who were preselected on the basis of their hypnotic susceptibility. Subjects were hypnotized and age regressed to two of four possible ages (16, 13, 10, and 7), or were given task-motivation instructions before being age regressed. All were then administered the MJI, which involves the resolution of certain dilemmas. Both groups were able to lower their moral reasoning scores when given age regression instructions, but no significant differences were found between groups. Thus the results of this study are inconsistent with those of Page (1985), but are consistent with those of O'Brien et al. (1977). Reasons for the failure to reaffirm the earlier results of Page (1985) are discussed.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1985

Hypnotic age regression and moral reasoning.

Moral reasoning was assessed with two dilemmas from the Kohlberg Moral Judgment Interview (1976) in 7 adults who were hypnotically age regressed to four ages: 15, 12, 9, and 6 years. Seven adults in a control group under task-motivation instructions were age regressed to the same ages and administered the dilemmas. Age-regressed moral maturity scores for both groups were compared to pretest scores, to data for actual 15-, 12-, 9-, and 6-year-olds from other studies, and to each other. Both groups were able to lower their moral reasoning scores when given age-regression instructions; however, hypnosis subjects not only scored lower than task-motivation subjects but also more closely resembled the levels of reasoning used by children at these ages. The results provide some support for a distinction between age regression through hypnosis and age regression through task-motivation instructions.

Adolescent↗