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Biomedical subjects

R Perry

Publications and source records attributed to R Perry.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction: effects on myocardial perfusion and left ventricular response to exercise.

Many patients with coronary artery disease treated by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) have a history of previous myocardial injury resulting in a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). The effects of successful PTCA on myocardial perfusion and left ventricular function in these patients were compared to treatment in patients with normal left ventricular EF. There were 21 patients with a normal EF (mean EF 59 +/- 2%) (Group I) and 15 patients with reduced EF (mean EF 43 +/- 1%) (Group II). Before PTCA a similar degree of reversible myocardial ischemia was present on thallium scintigraphy. At peak exercise left ventricular EF in the Group I patients decreased by 4 +/- 1% compared to 8 +/- 1% in Group II. At one month following successful PTCA there was resolution of reversible myocardial ischemia in both groups. No changes in EF at rest were observed. At the same level of exercise as before PTCA the mean EF was 5 +/- 1% higher than the pretreatment value in Group I and 10 +/- 1% higher in Group II. Thus in this study reversible myocardial ischemia was associated with severe compromise in the left ventricular response to exercise which was substantially improved by PTCA.

Angioplasty, Balloon

Colonic slow-wave analysis. Limitations of usefulness of fast Fourier transform (FFT).

The fast Fourier transform (FFT) has been used to determine frequency components of colonic slow-wave activity. We studied the effect of (1) recorder filter characteristics, (2) number of data points and, (3) data window overlap technique and ingestion of a 1000-kcal meal on the resulting power spectrum. Human rectosigmoid slow-wave activity was recorded in nine normal subjects and stored on FM tape for computer analysis. The dynograph filter characteristics were tested using square wave signals, and derived compensation factors were applied to the FFT before viewing. The dynograph filter, when set to optimize visualization of slow waves, attenuates low frequencies nonlinearly. Failure to compensate for the dynograph filter results in inaccurate detection of slow-wave frequencies. FFT of 1-min data gives a different power spectrum than an FFT of 4 min data, indicating a rapidly changing waveform. FFT's of 1 min of data when examined over time fail to demonstrate a consistent frequency spectrum, confirming this conclusion. The lower frequencies in the normal human rectosigmoid are present at the greatest power. These studies indicate that the colon has slow waves of irregular frequencies, in contrast to the stomach or small intestine. No change in the dominant frequency was seen following the ingestion of a 1000-kcal meal.

Adult

The effects of haloperidol on discrimination learning and behavioral symptoms in autistic children.

This double-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial in autistic children had three objectives: (a) to replicate earlier findings that haloperidol administration is associated with a significant reduction of behavioral symptoms; (b) to further assess its safety when given on a short-term basis; and (c) to assess whether it has an effect on discrimination learning. Forty-five children, 2.02 to 7.58 years old (M = 4.49), completed this crossover design, with random assignment to treatment sequences. Haloperidol was shown to be a powerful therapeutic agent when administered for 4 weeks and free of side effects; at doses ranging from 0.25 to 4.0 mg/day (M = 0.844), there was a clinically and statistically significant reduction of a variety of symptoms. Under the given conditions, the children failed to learn on either haloperidol or placebo.

Autistic Disorder

Long-term efficacy of haloperidol in autistic children: continuous versus discontinuous drug administration.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of haloperidol in autistic children and to determine whether discontinuous drug administration was as effective as continuous drug administration. Sixty children, 48 males and 12 females, ages 2.3 to 7.9 years (X 5.1) completed the study. They received haloperidol over a period of 6 months followed by a 4-week drug withdrawal/placebo period. Haloperidol remained effective, and the discontinuous treatment schedule did not diminish its efficacy. Children with prominent symptoms of irritability, angry and labile affect, and uncooperativeness were the best responders to haloperidol.

Autistic Disorder

Tourette-like symptoms associated with neuroleptic therapy in an autistic child.

A 5 1/2-year-old autistic boy developed a Tourette-like syndrome after neuroleptic withdrawal. The child was studied prospectively and any abnormal movements were compared with predrug baseline assessment and information. Differential diagnosis and some of the difficulties in evaluating neuroleptic related abnormal movements are discussed. The need for a baseline assessment of patients before the administration of neuroleptics is stressed.

Autistic Disorder

Naltrexone in autistic children: an acute open dose range tolerance trial.

The safety and efficacy of naltrexone was explored in an open acute dose range tolerance trial in 10 hospitalized autistic children, ages 3.42 to 6.50 years (mean, 5.04). Naltrexone was given in ascending doses: 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg/day. Behavioral side effects were observed as early as 1/2 hour after dosing. Ratings on the Children's Psychiatric Rating Scale showed that withdrawal was reduced across all three dose levels; administration of 0.5 mg/kg/day dose resulted in increased verbal production; and the 2.0 mg/kg/day dose resulted in reduction of sterotypies. Mild sedation of brief duration was the only side effect. Electrocardiogram, liver function tests, and all other laboratory studies remained unchanged throughout the study. These preliminary findings require replication in a larger sample of patients under double-blind and placebo controlled condition.

Autistic Disorder

Cortical somatostatinergic system not affected in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

A reduction in the levels of somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SLI) and somatostatin binding sites in the cerebral cortex has been previously reported to occur in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease with associated dementia. In the present study, the levels of both SLI and high affinity [3H]somatostatin binding sites have been measured in the frontal (Brodmann area 9) and temporal (Brodmann area 21) cortices in patients with presenile and senile Alzheimer's disease, and in mentally normal and cognitively impaired cases of Parkinson's disease. The results were compared with those obtained from a group of normal patients matched for age and postmortem delay. No significant changes in SLI or somatostatin binding in the frontal and temporal cortex were found between any of the disease groups. These results suggest that involvement of the somatostatinergic system in AD or Parkinson's disease is not a consistent or primary neurochemical feature of these diseases.

Adult

Multiple chromosome rearrangements in a childhood ependymoma.

Multiple karyotypically abnormal cell lines were observed in long-term cultures of an ependymoma of the fourth ventricle of a child. A previous report of a G-banded ependymoma karyotype described monosomy 8, trisomy 9, t(1;7)(p12;p13), and t(X;10)(q22-23;q24). This case also shows involvement of Xq22 and 10q24.

Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms

Molecular cloning and characterisation of the genes for a non-fimbrial adhesin from Escherichia coli.

A non-fimbrial adhesin (NFA-1) from the uropathogenic Escherichia coli strain 827 responsible for agglutination of human erythrocytes was cloned using the cos 4 cosmid vector. A clone was isolated which promoted haemagglutination and showed the same biological properties as the adhesin produced by the wild type strain. Both express adhesin at 37 degrees C, but not 18 degrees C nor in the presence of 1% glucose. Adhesin purified from the clone formed high molecular weight aggregates which were resolved to the 21 K dalton subunit protein seen in the wild type strain on denaturation. Binding to human kidney cells by the clone and the wild type E. coli, from which the genes were cloned, were compared in an ELISA assay and shown to be the same. The genes for the adhesin were isolated on a 15.5 kilobase BamHI-EcoRI fragment which was subjected to gamma delta mutagenesis. The NFA-1 operon was localised to a 6.5kb region of this fragment.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli

Development and characterization of a polymer gel with an immobilized enzyme to measure L-glutamate.

Glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) is used in an enzyme electrode to measure L-glutamate. GDH is covalently immobilized in a hydrophilic, permeable, and semirigid gel produced by the copolymerization of polyacrylamide and N-acryloxysuccinimide. Experimental conditions necessary to retain GDH in the gel with high efficiency and minimum denaturation are optimized. The abilities of enzymatic cofactors and coenzymes, NADH, NAD, ATP, ADP, GTP, and ZnCl2, to protect the enzyme during immobilization are explored. Under optimum experimental procedures an enzyme-containing gel is produced that is reproducible and long lasting in its functional behavior. The gel responds to the presence of L-glutamate with high velocity, the delay being less than 500 ms; high specificity, being 1000-fold more responsive to L-glutamate than D-glutamate, D- or L-aspartate, and N-acetylhistidine; and high sensitivity, a concentration of about 3 microM can be measured.

Acrylic Resins

Monoclonal anti-Ia antibody therapy in animal models of autoimmune disease.

Allele-specific monoclonal anti-I-A antibodies are capable of specifically suppressing the immune response to antigens under the control of the allele towards which the antibody is directed, without suppressing the response to antigens under the control of the alternative allele of the I-A alpha and beta chain genes in an F1 heterozygote. This phenomenon, which has been termed 'allele-specific immunosuppression', is antigen-specific, long-lasting and transferrable with Thy-1-positive spleen cells. This type of immunosuppression has been applied to animal models of autoimmune disease, in both homozygous and heterozygous animal models. Anti-I-A monoclonal antibodies are capable of preventing, suppressing and treating experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), of partially suppressing experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis, and of preventing the onset of type I insulin-dependent diabetes in the BB/W diabetic rat. In addition, this type of immunotherapy has succeeded in almost completely suppressing nephritis in NZB X NZW F1 mice, which normally develop severe lupus-like nephritis. Significant toxicity, which may be due to anti-allotype antibodies, anti-idiotype antibodies, or to impurities in the monoclonal antibody preparations, has been encountered in the BB/W diabetic rat. In addition, attempts to extend these observations to EAE in the cynomolgus monkey have encountered significant mortality which appears to be attributable to the monoclonal antibody injections (anti-HLA-DR). The mechanism of this toxicity and means of circumventing it are currently under investigation. These results demonstrate the critical role of I-A molecules in the induction and continuance of the autoimmune process in these experimental animal models.

Animals

A taxometric method for diagnosis of tardive dyskinesia.

A taxometric method for diagnosis of drug-induced tardive dyskinesia is described. The method, using items from the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) as indicators of the syndrome, is applied in a sample of children diagnosed earlier as autistic and participating in an ongoing treatment program. The method includes procedures for estimation of the prevalence rate of the syndrome and the valid positive and false positive rates for each indicator of the syndrome and it includes tests (referred to as "consistency tests") for checking the internal validity or goodness-of-fit of the statistical model. The agreement of the taxometric classification with that obtained by using criteria suggested by Schooler and Kane was very good. In general, the results were encouraging enough to warrant further study of this kind of method for the detection and diagnosis of tardive dyskinesia.

Antipsychotic Agents

Serum creatine kinase-BB levels and cerebral cortical creatine kinase activity in senile dementia of the Alzheimer type.

A rise in serum creatine kinase-BB (CK-BB) levels has been reported previously in cases of dementia. In the present study the levels of serum CK-BB have been measured in patients clinically assessed to have senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type (SDAT) and in cognitively intact individuals, matched for age, by a specific two-site monoclonal immunoradiometric assay. No significant difference was found between the 2 groups. Total creatine kinase activity in temporal cortex (Brodmann area 21 and 22) was also found to be similar in brains from SDAT or control cases, obtained at autopsy. These results suggest no major change in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier to this enzyme in SDAT patients.

Alzheimer Disease

Cranio-facial tumours of mixed cartilage and bone in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus).

Cranio-facial tumours of mixed cartilage and bone are discussed in 4 koalas. The tumours were well circumscribed and distorted the faces of the koalas. Grossly, the tumours were firm, white and nodular. Histologically, they consisted of compartments separated by connective tissue septa. The compartments were lined by cells resembling chondroblasts, and had varying amounts of bone and hypertrophied chondrocytes in their centres. The neoplasms were considered benign.

Adenocarcinoma