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Biomedical subjects

R Fleming

Publications and source records attributed to R Fleming.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

LHRH analogues for ovulation induction, with particular reference to polycystic ovary syndrome.

Infertile women with PCO have been treated with exogenous gonadotrophins (hMG/hCG) for ovulation induction either with or without LHRH-agonist treatment. Those treated without LHRH-agonist-induced LH suppression showed PL in greater than 30% of the cycles and this problem was eliminated by LHRH-agonist therapy. The pregnancy rate (approximately 80% of patients) during the combined therapy was approximately twice that of the group treated with hMG/hCG alone. The suppression of endogenous LH by the LHRH-agonist appeared to have no effect upon the profiles of follicular development in response to hMG, and a high rate of follicle recruitment characterized all PCO treatment cycles irrespective of circulating LH concentrations. These results suggest that LH suppression improves the efficacy of ovulation induction but has no influence on the primary metabolic disturbance in the PCO syndrome.

Drug Therapy, Combination↗
PubMed1988

Health aspects of radio-frequency radiation accidents. Part I: Assessment of health after a radio-frequency radiation accident.

The health aspects of an accident involving nine men exposed to 4.1 GHz radio-frequency radiation (RFR) is described. Two were exposed to levels of 4.6 mW/cm2 for up to 90 minutes, which exceeds the current Australian standard of 1 mW/cm2, while the other seven were exposed to lower levels. For staff in the high-exposure group, the dose rate was calculated for the whole body, skin, eyes, and pituitary. Comprehensive medical examinations were performed on all staff, including follow-up ophthalmological examinations over a period of nine months. Various abnormalities were found in all staff but, with the possible exception of hair loss, there was no consistent gradient of effect in the occurrence of abnormality between the groups. Various problems in conducting the investigation are discussed. It was concluded that the exposure had not resulted in harmful effects.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed1988

The use of GnRH analogues in combination with exogenous gonadotropins in infertile women.

GnRH analogues suppress LH fluctuations and produce a condition of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. This action combined with treatment with human menopausal gonadotropins (hMG) has been exploited in programmes of induction of follicular growth in infertile women for both in vivo and in vitro fertilisation. There is improved clinical control over the process of ovulation and the phenomenon of premature luteinization in women with polycystic ovary disease has been eliminated.

Drug Therapy, Combination↗
PubMed1988

Apolipoproteins of the orotic acid fatty liver: implications for the biogenesis of plasma lipoproteins.

Rats fed orotic acid develop fatty livers characterized by triglyceride-laden, membrane-bounded vesicles designated "liposomes." We have measured the levels of apolipoproteins in isolated liposomes and other subcellular fractions by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, electrotransfer, and immunodecoration. Apolipoproteins Bh, Bl, E, and C appear to cofractionate; for these proteins, the liposomal pool represents a large portion of their total intracellular mass. However, liposomes are deficient in both variants of apoB relative to apoE and apoC when compared with rat plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL). Albumin and apolipoproteins A-I and A-IV are also found in liposomes, but this organelle represents a minor fraction of their total intracellular mass. The liposomal apolipoproteins show varying degrees of association with cisternal lipid and with organelle membranes. Orotic acid may selectively block VLDL production at the level of particle assembly or transorganellar movement. We conclude that liposomal contents probably represent exaggerated accumulations of VLDL assembly intermediates, and that the intracellular partitioning of high density lipoprotein-destined from VLDL-destined components occurs at an early stage in particle biogenesis. Moreover, some unique structural feature of apoB may effect movement of VLDL assembly intermediates through secretory organelles.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Is the smoking decision an 'informed choice'? Effect of smoking risk factors on smoking beliefs.

The argument that people freely choose to smoke assumes that individuals at the point of initiation of smoking (often in adolescence) hold accurate beliefs about smoking. Smoking beliefs and the presence of known smoking risk factors were assessed in interviews with a sample of 895 urban young people. The respondents greatly overestimated the prevalence of adult and peer smoking, negative attitudes of their peers were greatly underestimated, a large proportion believed that they would be less likely than other people to contract a smoking-related illness if they became smokers, and there was a general lack of understanding of the adverse consequences experienced upon smoking cessation. These misperceptions were more common among youngsters who were smokers, who intended to smoke, or who had friends or family members who smoked. Because misinformation among young people is widespread and those at greatest risk for smoking are the most misinformed, the tobacco industry's argument that the decision to smoke reflects an "informed choice" is without merit.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Chronic stress, catecholamines, and sleep disturbance at Three Mile Island.

The present study was concerned with the relationship between chronic stress and sleep disturbance. Previous research has provided evidence of chronic stress responding among people living near the Three Mile Island nuclear generating facility. Compared to control subjects, the TMI group has exhibited greater symptom reporting, poorer performance on behavioral measures of concentration, and elevated levels of urinary norepinephrine and epinephrine. Other research has suggested a relationship between arousal and insomnia. The extent to which stress and sleep disturbances were experienced by residents at TMI was examined and compared to levels of stress and sleep disturbance among a group of control subjects. The relationship between stress and sleep disturbances was also examined. Results indicated that TMI area residents exhibited more stress than the controls and reported greater disturbance of sleep. Modest relationships among stress and sleep measures suggested that the symptoms of stress measured in this study were not primary determinants of sleep problems.

Accidents↗
PubMed1987

'Unexplained infertility' results of secondary investigations in 95 couples.

Abnormalities of in-vitro sperm-mucus penetration, ovarian hormone deficiency, specifically poor progesterone surge, and luteal cyst formation were assessed prospectively in 95 couples with fully investigated primary infertility of greater than or equal to 3 years duration. Abnormal sperm-mucus penetration was found in 22, half of whom could have been identified on semen assessment alone. Ten other males had recurrent oligospermia but with normal motility and mucus penetration. Twenty-one patients had a poor progesterone surge and seven of them demonstrated retained luteal phase cysts. Endocrine and mucus penetration abnormalities did not coincide, demonstrating that they are distinct and unrelated phenomena. A significant number of couples were found for whom the term 'unexplained infertility' was no longer applicable and appropriate management could be considered.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Unemployment stress: loss of control, reactance and learned helplessness.

The present study was concerned with stress-related consequences of unemployment and the behavioral changes related to this experience of control loss. Subjects were sampled along a continuum of time since unemployment, including a control group of employed subjects. Results indicated evidence of stress responding among the unemployed subjects, measured as increased levels of urinary catecholamines and behavioral performance deficits. Further evidence is presented which analyzes subjects' attributions and behaviors in terms of the theories of reactance and learned helplessness. Results support a biphasic response to loss of control with reactance manifested at early stages of control loss and learned helplessness at later stages.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1986

Induction of multiple follicular growth in normally menstruating women with endogenous gonadotropin suppression.

Patients with normal menstrual rhythm and normal luteinizing hormone were treated with exogenous gonadotropins to induce multiple follicular development. This was effected in the absence (34 cycles in 12 patients) or with concurrent suppression of endogenous gonadotropin levels with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog (84 cycles in 18 patients). In the absence of the analog, "premature" luteinization occurred in 51% of cycles before the ultrasonic visualization of a follicle with a diameter of 20 mm. In the analog-treated cycles, premature luteinization was almost totally eliminated and progesterone elevations were delayed until after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin. Follicular estrogen production was unaffected by the analog treatment, compared with hypogonadal patients treated with exogenous gonadotropins. The characteristics of follicular development showed that two to three follicles of mature size were induced with this technique, and the capacity for the induction of a larger number of follicles was evident.

Buserelin↗
PubMed1986

Strategies of disattention and auditory hallucinations in schizophrenics.

Disattentional strategies used by schizophrenics to attenuate auditory stimulation from the environment were proposed as extraordinary conditions of attention which facilitate the misperception of lexical thought as a voice and create an auditory hallucination. Two strategies were studied. The switching strategy involved concentration upon an external visual display to prevent a clearly audible list of words from registering. The holding strategy required mentally repeating a word in the list so as to ignore the words that followed. Process (N = 32) and reactive (N = 32) schizophrenics, 46 of whom had a history of auditory hallucinations, served as subjects. Effectiveness of the two disattentional strategies was tested by subsequent inability of the schizophrenic to recognize words from the taped list. Process schizophrenics with auditory hallucinations were able to use switching effectively but not holding. In contrast, reactive schizophrenics suffering auditory hallucinations successfully used holding but not switching. Both effects were confirmed relative to hallucinating controls given standard memory instructions. Strategy effects were not apparent in nonhallucinating schizophrenics. These results suggest that different disattentional strategies may have been practiced by hallucinating schizophrenics in keeping with their premorbid status and style of attention deployment. A proposal functionally relating disattention to the genesis of auditory hallucinations was suggested.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1985

Effects of LH suppression in polycystic ovary syndrome.

A LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue was administered to subjects with elevated circulating LH concentrations and elevated androgens (polycystic ovary syndrome, PCO) and also to a control group with normal menstrual rhythm and normal LH and androgens. In both groups circulating LH concentrations were reduced to low and indistinguishable concentrations. Oestradiol, oestrone, androstenedione and testosterone levels were all reduced by treatment in both groups. However, the reduction in androgen concentrations was less marked in the patients with PCO. The oestrogen/androgen ratios remained relatively unaltered, but the testosterone levels remained slightly elevated in the PCO patients after treatment. The results suggest that patients with PCO syndrome show a disorder of androgen metabolism independent of elevated LH concentrations.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Successful treatment of infertile women with oligomenorrhoea using a combination of an LHRH agonist and exogenous gonadotrophins.

Eight oligomenorrhoeic patients with increased luteinizing hormone (LH) and androgen levels who had failed to conceive during prolonged anti-oestrogen therapy received a new treatment. Large doses of an LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue (HOE 766) were used to suppress circulating gonadotrophin concentrations and block the positive feedback gonadotrophin surge. Ovulation was induced during continued LHRH analogue treatment with exogenous gonadotrophins without interference from the patient's own pituitary. Seven of eight patients conceived rapidly without premature luteinization and without excessive ovarian enlargement. These complications had occurred in control treatment cycles using exogenous gonadotrophins in the absence of the LHRH analogue.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Episodic unilateral mydriasis and migraine.

Seven patients (all female, ranging in age from 5 to 53 years) had typical migraine and episodic unilateral mydriasis. These mydriatic episodes, usually occurring during the headache, lasted from 15 minutes to 24 hours and had occurred for three months to 35 years. Three patients had suffered from car sickness as children and there was a family history of migraine in six. Normal accommodation in five patients, normal responses to pilocarpine in two patients, and a return to normal or near-normal pupillary reaction in five patients with the cessation of headache made pharmacologic blockade unlikely. Although there are several possible neurogenic mechanisms, a parasympatholytic origin appears to be the most likely explanation for the mydriasis. Such episodes are generally benign.

Accommodation, Ocular↗