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Biomedical subjects

R McCarthy

Publications and source records attributed to R McCarthy.

105 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors: should they be discontinued preoperatively?

Adverse cardiovascular responses to anesthesia during either electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) or elective surgical procedures were evaluated in 27 patients maintained on chronic (3 months-3 yr) monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) therapy. Changes in blood pressure and heart rate in study patients (n = 22 ECTs in 13 patients) undergoing ECT were not significantly different from those observed in patients having ECT without prior treatment with MAOIs (n = 45 ECTs in 45 patients). In both groups, blood pressure and heart rate increased significantly after ECT, but returned to baseline levels within 15 min. No complications attributable to MAOIs were observed in study patients (n = 14) undergoing elective surgical procedures. We conclude that discontinuing chronic MAOI therapy prior to anesthesia and surgery is not necessary.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

In search of early pregnancy factor: characterisation of active polypeptides isolated from pregnant ewes' sera.

Further biochemical characterisations of the 20 kd and 67 kd EPF active polypeptides from pregnant ewes' sera are described. Both polypeptides are shown to possess compact, disulphide linked domains which are almost totally resistant to proteolytic attack without prior reduction. In contrast to previous reports on the influence of ammonium sulphate on the expression of EPF activity, neither the biochemical nor the activity characteristics of either polypeptide is changed by ammonium sulphate fractionation. In addition, direct comparative studies have been performed which clearly distinguish the EPF active polypeptides from the known ovine hormones, prolactin, placental lactogen and growth hormone.

Ammonium Sulfate↗
PubMed1984

Token reinforcement during WISC-R administration. II. Effects on mildly retarded, black students.

In the first of two experiments, mildly retarded, elementary-aged, low-social status black children were administered the WISC-R under standardized-testing conditions or conditions employing token reinforcement for correct responding. Token-reinforcement subjects scored significantly higher on both the Verbal subtest and Full-Scale IQ, but not the Performance subtest. Results replicate previous findings with elementary-aged, nonretarded, black children. The same design was utilized in a second study employing mildly retarded, junior-high age, low-social status, black students. No significant differences were found between groups, suggesting that age may affect results when using tangible rewards. Coupled with previous studies, these findings imply that nonbiased intellectual assessment appears to require an analysis of motivational factors.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1984

A two-route model of speech production. Evidence from aphasia.

Quantitative investigations of speech production deficits are reported in three aphasic patients. Two had impaired paraphasic performance in repetition tasks but relatively well preserved spontaneous speech (conduction aphasia). The other patient had impaired paraphasic spontaneous speech but intact repetition (transcortical motor aphasia). In repetition tasks which required active semantic processing the conduction aphasics were facilitated and the transcortical motor aphasic impaired; in tasks which required passive repetition the opposite pattern of dissociation was observed. These findings are accounted for within a two-route model of the speech production process.

Aphasia↗
PubMed1983

In search of early pregnancy factor: isolation of active polypeptides from pregnant ewes' sera.

A four-step procedure is described for the isolation of the polypeptides which are responsible for a major portion of the EPF activity present in pregnant ewes' sera between 3-8 weeks gestation. The procedure utilises large-scale molecular size fractionation on hollow fibres in combination with conventional ion-exchange chromatography and HPLC gel permeation. It yields two homogeneous active fractions. One contains a single polypeptide of molecular weight approximately 20K, the other a 67K polypeptide. When compared on either a weight or molar basis the 20K polypeptide was at least an order of magnitude more active in the rosette inhibition test than the 67K polypeptide. The 20K polypeptide appears to represent the major form of RIT active material (EPF) present in pregnancy sera at this stage of gestation in the ewe.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Category specific access dysphasia.

In this study we report our investigations of the residual auditory-verbal comprehension skills of a global dysphasic who had sustained a major left hemisphere infarction. Clinically V.E.R.'s capacity for propositional speech and her comprehension of the simplest verbal instructions appeared to be absent. Nevertheless using matching-to-sample techniques it was possible to demonstrate the selective preservation (foods, animals and flowers) and the selective impairment (objects) of specific semantic categories. Furthermore there was evidence from analyses of response consistency and presentation rate effects that her deficit was primarily one of access to the full semantic representation of words. We suggest that this access impairment arose because the system had become refractory, such refractoriness being category specific.

Aged↗
PubMed1983

The effect of freezing on peripheral nerve repair.

It has been suggested that where a double lesion to a peripheral nerve exists, the results of regeneration of the nerve is actually improved. This has been studied by comparing the results of nerve section and repair with and without an accompanying second lesion in the form of freezing of the nerve proximal to the anastomosis. While the effects of freezing does not adversely affect the results of nerve repair it has not been shown to produce any significant improvement.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Disseminated ascariasis: a case report.

A very unusual case of ascariasis is reported. There was massive migration of worms from the small bowel to the liver, and probably thence to the heart and lungs, where adult worms were demonstrated. The cause of death was pulmonary embolism, adult worms blocking the main pulmonary arteries with superimposed thrombosis. This is believed to be unique.

Ascariasis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Abnormal vitamin levels in patients receiving home total parenteral nutrition.

The administration of multivitamins to patients receiving home parenteral nutrition (HPN) was decreased from once daily to three times weekly during the parenteral multivitamin shortage in 1997. Blood vitamin levels were measured to examine whether the decrement in the infused vitamins affected the levels. Six patients with normal renal and liver function, receiving HPN for 6 months to 10 years, were studied 6 months after the institution of 10 mL of multivitamins thrice weekly. Two patients with renal insufficiency who required hemodialysis and HPN were also studied. Multivitamin administration was eliminated in one patient and was reduced to once weekly when elevated pyridoxine levels were found in association with possible neurotoxicity. Five of the six patients with normal renal function had low serum ascorbic acid levels. Serum riboflavin levels were found to be low in one patient, serum pyridoxine was low in one, serum retinoids were low in three, and serum niacin was low in one. There were no clinically obvious untoward effects caused by the vitamin deficiencies. Each of the dialysis patients had elevated serum pyridoxine levels and had some neurologic disturbance (peripheral neuropathy, involuntary movements). The serum pyridoxine levels fell to normal in each after the cessation or decrease of the multivitamin preparation. Ascorbic acid levels were low in one patient and fell into abnormally low levels in the other when the parenteral multivitamins were reduced, but they corrected with the separate administration of intravenous vitamin C. In conclusion, the reduced administration of multivitamins in 1997 resulted in diminished ascorbic acid levels in seven of eight patients receiving total parenteral nutrition. Less often, low levels of retinoids, niacin, pyridoxine, and riboflavin were seen. Patients with chronic renal failure receiving HPN with multivitamins may develop elevated pyridoxine levels, which might result in neurologic sequelae.

Adult↗