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Biomedical subjects

R Lang

Publications and source records attributed to R Lang.

At least 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMed1976

Somatostatin: a potent inhibitor of ACTH-hypersecretion in adrenal insufficiency.

Somatostatin (250 mug as a bolus i.v. and 250 mug as a 1-hr infusion) was administered to 5 patients with adrenal insufficiency of different origin. In each patient a sustained, progressive fall in plasma ACTH was observed during the infusion period. The mean maximal reduction in plasma ACTH was 43.8 +/- 5.9%. After cessation of the somatostatin infusion there was a rise of plasma ACTH to starting levels within 1/2 hour. These findings suggest that somatostatin is a potent inhibitor of ACTH secretion, however, only in a condition in which glucocorticoids are lacking.

Addison Disease↗
PubMed1976

Adrenal insufficiency secondary to hypothalamic corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) insufficiency with hyperpigmentation: a case report.

Partial adrenocortical insufficiency as a result of an insufficiency of the hypothalamic corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) was demonstrated in a 53-year-old female patient. Somatotropic, gonadotropic and thyreotropic functions of the pituitary gland were shown to be normal by a simultaneous pituitary stimulation test. This held true especially for the adrenocorticotrophic function: administration of lysine-vasopressin induced a normal rise in immunoreactive plasma-ACTH. Thus, a pituitary defect as a primary cause of the disease could be excluded and evidence was provided that there was a lack in hypothalamic stimulae absence of elevated ACTH levels hyperpigmentation of the skin existed. Possible explanations are discussed.

Adrenal Insufficiency↗
PubMed1976

Orderlies as interpreters in Papua New Guinea.

The medical orderly as a linguistic intermediary is performing the function of interpreter for which he has not been trained. However, it is found that he almost always achieves an adequate equivalence between the source language and the target language. One strength of the system is that the orderly has medical training but this is also a basic weakness since if a more complex situation arises in which the patient wishes to convey information heregards as relevant but the orderly regards as irrelevant, the communication process may break down into a mass of misunderstandings.

Language↗
PubMed1976

[Peak expiratory flow rate among Swiss boys and girls between 4 to 19 1/2 years of age domiciled in the Canton of Geneva in 1972].

Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was measured by means of a Wright peak flow meter on a sample of 2865 boys and 2712 girls selected at random in the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland (resident population of Swiss children and adolescents aged 4-19 1/2 in 1972). Technique of measurements and statistical analysis are described with an aim at standardization. Expected percentiles of PEFR (50, 25, 10 and 2.5) versus standing height are presented in tabular form for boys and girls separately. Nomograms are given allowing graphical determination of expected PEFR percentiles in either sex for any given standing height.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

The recovery of the electrocorticogram of normothermic canine brains after complete cerebral ischemia.

Complete cerebral ischaemias of 1 to 30 min duration were performed under normothermic conditions in completely isolated canine heads perfused from a donor dog. The electrocorticogram was found to return in the reperfusion period following these complete ischaemias. The latency of recovery, i.e. the interval between the end of the complete cerebral ischaemia and the reappearance of the first cortical potentials, increased with increasing duration of the complete cerebral ischaemia; thus, the latency of recovery after a complete ischaemia of 30 min amounted to 11 to 12 hours.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Influence of adenosine and lowered cerebral blood flow on the cerebrovascular effects of theophylline.

The response of brain blood vessels to theophylline infused intra-arterially was evaluated. The experiments were performed on isolated canine brains perfused by donor dogs. Thus secondary effects due to theophylline were eliminated. Arterial pO2, pCO2, pH and brain temperature were kept constant. Cerebral vascular resistance (CVR) was calculated from total venous outflow and cerebral perfusion pressure. A 2 mg dose of theophylline per brain was given at normal cerebral perfusion pressure (about 81 mm Hg), at lowered cerebral perfusion pressure (about 37 mm Hg), and during an adenosine infusion lasting 10 min (10-minus 7 mol/min). At normal perfusion pressure theophylline showed a significant 15% decrease of CVR, but at lowered perfusion pressure a significant 19% increase occurred. During infusion of adenosine, which decreased CVR by 23%, theophylline again increased CVR by 20%, thus demonstrating an adenosine-theophylline antagonism. From our results, it is suggested that adenosine could be involved in the vasodilatation of cerebral vessels in the hypoxic brain.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1975

Rates of lactic acid permeation and utilization in the isolated dog brain.

The rate of lactic acid (LA) permeation from brain tissue to venous blood and utilization in brain tissue was investigated in 13 isolated dog brains before and after an ischemic period of 3 min. LA concentration in the brain, cerebral blood flow, as well as the arteriovenous differneces of LA, glucose, and O2 were determined. LA concentration in cerebral tissue increased from a control value of 254 +/- 42 to 1,606 +/- 177 mumol/100 g brain tissue in the 2nd min after ischemia (mean values +/- SE). Before ischemia no release of LA was found, whereas in the 2nd min after ischemia LA permeation rate had increased to 25.1 +/- 8.5 mumol/100 g brain tissue per minute (P less than 0.005). Up to the 4th min after ischemia no net LA utilization was observed. Thereafter LA utilization increased rapidly and exceeded the LA permeation rate by a ratio of maximally 10:1 between the 12th and 21st min after ischemia. The O2 equivalent of the cerebral metabolic rate for lactate maximally amounted to 2.82 +/- 0.42 mumol-min-1-g-1 or 181 +/- 28%. LA output may be limited by passage of LA across the brain cell and the blood-brain barrier.

Animals↗