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Biomedical subjects

S Brown

Publications and source records attributed to S Brown.

At least 505 records · Page 28Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Major depressive disorder, alcoholism, and reduced natural killer cell cytotoxicity. Role of severity of depressive symptoms and alcohol consumption.

Depression and alcohol abuse have been associated with alterations in cell-mediated immune function. This study directly compared the effects of depression, alcoholism, and their joint contribution to reduce natural killer cell cytotoxicity. Natural killer cell activity was significantly lower in both depressed (n = 18) and alcoholic (n = 19) patients compared with control subjects (n = 50). In addition, patients with a dual diagnosis of either alcohol abuse and secondary depression (n = 9) or depression with a history of alcohol abuse (n = 26) demonstrated a further decrease in natural killer cell activity compared with that found in patients with either depression or alcoholism alone. While both depression and alcoholism are separately associated with a reduction of natural killer cell activity, subgroups of patients in whom the diagnoses of alcoholism and depression coexist show a further decrement in natural killer cell function.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The blood-testis barrier in experimental unilateral cryptorchidism.

Unilateral cryptorchidism was induced in Wistar rat pups within 48 h of birth. After a period of 150 days, the blood-testis barrier was evaluated in the cryptorchid and contralateral scrotal testis, using a lanthanum immersion technique. The barrier was demonstrated to be competent, with tracer confined to the basal and intermediate compartments.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Headaches and multiple sclerosis: a clinical study and review of the literature.

Whether multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause headaches is controversial. To clarify the association between headaches and MS we prospectively analyzed 104 consecutive MS patients using detailed headache evaluations. Fifty-four patients (52%) reported headaches, compared with 5 of 35 (14%) patients initially suspected to have MS but subsequently proven to have other disorders, and 18 of 100 (18%) matched general neurology patients. The MS patients had tension headaches or vascular headaches of the migraine type; there was no distinctive "MS headache." Seven of these patients had headaches with their first MS symptoms, but in only one did headaches recur with disease activity. Headaches did not correlate with any clinical features of MS. We conclude that an association between headaches and MS may exist.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

How far can attraction-caused misalignment account for the Morinaga misalignment effect?

When a line (the pointer) is collinear with a dot, the addition of a second line (the induction line) contiguous with the dot or near it may cause the pointer to appear to be collinear with a point further along or nearer to the induction line. The geometrical relations upon which this effect (which we call attraction-caused misalignment) depends, have been studied with the Obonai and Wundt-Loeb (Hotopf, 1981; Hotopf & Brown, 1988) figures. Drawing upon the studies of misalignment in the Morinaga figure carried out by Restle (1976), Day, Bellamy, and Norman (1983), and Day and Kasperczyk (1985), as well as upon two new experiments, we show that misalignment in the Morinaga figure is also attraction-caused misalignment, as previously defined. We conclude with a discussion of a number of theories that aim at accounting for attraction misalignment.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

The use of covert sensitization and social skills training in the treatment of an obscene telephone caller.

This case study examines the use of covert sensitization and social skills training to treat an obscene telephone caller on a behaviorally-oriented inpatient psychiatric unit. Rapid decreases in penile tumescence associated with obscene telephone calling were obtained after covert sensitization treatment and were maintained at one year follow-up. Social skills training led to a decrease in social anxiety and increase in social behavior. Results support the combined clinical effectiveness of covert sensitization and social skills training for the treatment of obscene telephone calling.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Muramyl dipeptide (MDP) synergizes with interleukin 2 and interleukin 4 to stimulate, respectively, the differentiation and proliferation of B cells.

The synthetic immunomodulator muramyldipeptide (MDP) can stimulate B cells. MDP, when used alone, was apparently unable to induce the differentiation or proliferation of resting B cells. In contrast, MDP appeared to synergize with a single recombinant interleukin (IL) to stimulate either their differentiation or proliferation. We used single interleukins to avoid synergistic and antagonistic effects inherent in the use of several factors. IL-2 was found to be sufficient to restore the specific immune response of resting B cells to sheep erythrocytes; MDP greatly increased the number of plaque-forming cells of such IL-2-stimulated B cells. In contrast, IL-4 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), either alone or in the presence of MDP, had no effect in this differentiation assay. MDP was also able to stimulate polyclonally activated B cells. IL-4 increased the proliferation of anti-IgM-stimulated B cells, leading to enlargement and driving more cells into the cell cycle; these effects were further enhanced by MDP, more cells being induced to proliferate, to enlarge, and to progress into the cycle with a higher frequency of cells in the G1B, S, and G2/M compartments. Intracellular free calcium levels were not increased by IL-4 and/or MDP, and the two compounds did not modify the anti-IgM-induced calcium mobilization. Therefore, MDP appears to amplify cytokine effects in B cell activation, by a mechanism which does not appear to involve free calcium mobilization.

Acetylmuramyl-Alanyl-Isoglutamine↗
PubMed1990

Fertility in experimental unilateral cryptorchidism.

Unilateral cryptorchidism was induced in Wistar rat pups within 48 hours of birth. Evaluation of fertility was subsequently assessed at 50, 100, and 150 days of age by paternity and daily sperm production. The descended scrotal testis was demonstrated to have a significantly diminished rate of sperm production at 150 days. Paternity studies failed to reflect this dysfunction, cryptorchid and sham-operated control animals having a 58% and 80% ability to produce offspring (P = .44).

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Secondary changes in the scrotal testis in experimental unilateral cryptorchidism.

Unilateral cryptorchidism was induced in under 2-day-old Wistar rat pups. A control group of rats underwent sham operation at the same age. The animals were killed at intervals from 5 to 120 days, both testes were excised, weighted, and processed for histological examination, morphometric measurement of the seminiferous tubules, and DNA flow cytometry. There was no difference in weight, Johnsen score, and tubular size between the scrotal testis of cryptorchid animals and control testes at any age. Significant decreases in all of these parameters occurred in the undescended testis from 30 days when compared with the scrotal testis in cryptorchid animals and controls. Using flow cytometry to measure changes in the DNA ploidy of the cells of the seminiferous epithelium during spermatogenesis, a significant decrease in the haploid population of cells occurred in the scrotal testis of cryptorchid animals at 40 days. This difference continued into adult life (P less than .005). Flow cytometry demonstrates a secondary decrease in spermatogenesis in the scrotal testis in experimental unilateral cryptorchidism.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Serum IgG subclass antibody responses in children vaccinated with influenza virus antigens by live attenuated or inactivated vaccines.

To ascertain whether live attenuated or inactivated vaccines can be considered equivalent, we examined the primary antibody response of children following vaccination with influenza virus antigens in three different formulations. Nine children received cold recombinant vaccine (CRV) containing A/Korea/82 (H3N2) and A/Dunedin/83 (H1N1) variants. Eight of these children responded to HA of the H3N2 subtype and the major portion of the elicited antibody was in the IgG1 subclass. Antibody of low titer in the IgG2 and IgG3 subclasses was detected in two and six serum specimens, respectively. Six of the nine children administered with CRV responded to the H1 antigen and only IgG1 antibody was detected. Serum specimens from eight children less than one year of age (5 less than 6 months of age) who had developed an antibody response to trivalent inactivated vaccine (TIV) vaccination were examined. High levels of IgG1 antibody to purified H3 were detected in all eight children. Low titers of antibody in IgG2 and IgG3 subclasses were detected in two and five children, respectively. Antibody responses to purified H1 showed a similar subclass distribution. In order to examine secondary response, eight children primed by immunization with TIV vaccine were subsequently given a single booster dose of purified hemagglutinin (HA) conjugated to diphtheria toxoid (HA-D). In 6/8 specimens antibody rises were detected to purified H3 and H1 antigens. Prior to the HA-D immunization, low levels of HA specific IgG1 antibody were detected in all serum specimens and vaccine induced responses were primarily of the IgG1 subclass.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

A curriculum in clinical sexuality for arthritis health care professionals.

The results of an experimental training program in sexologic interviewing for a multidisciplinary arthritis patient care team are reported. The program included didactic instruction, observation and practice of interviewing skills, a seminar, and a case presentation. Trainees had gained more knowledge than control subjects at one year. Both groups improved their interviewing skills, but trainees showed more improvement than controls on problem-list generation. All participants showed more improvement when interviewing male than female patients. The data show that training programs in sexologic interviewing can improve both knowledge and skills. Programs should include actual practice interviewing patients.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗
PubMed1990

Impact of perceived self-efficacy in coping with stressors on components of the immune system.

This experiment examined the impact of experimentally varied perceived self-efficacy in exercising control over stressors on components of the immunological system. Immunological changes while coping with phobic stressors were measured within an intrasubject control design that included a baseline phase, an efficacy-acquisition phase, and a maximal-efficacy phase. In each of these phases, perceived coping self-efficacy, level of autonomic and endocrine activation, and several components of the immunological system were measured. Development of strong perceived self-efficacy to control phobic stressors had an immunoenhancing effect. A slow growth of perceived self-efficacy, heart rate acceleration, and cortisol activation attenuated immunological system status during the efficacy-acquisition phase. Rapid growth of perceived self-efficacy also predicted maintenance of immunoenhancement during the maximal perceived self-efficacy phase.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1990

Unilateral cryptorchidism: an animal model.

Unilateral division of the distal gubernaculum testis was performed, using hypothermic anaesthesia, in Wistar rats within 48 hours of birth. This resulted in ipsilateral abdominal testicular retention and contralateral descent. This model is suitable for the experimental study of congenital unilateral cryptorchidism and is presented in detail.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Short REM latency in primary alcoholic patients with secondary depression.

Primary alcoholic patients with secondary depression had significantly shorter REM latency and less non-REM sleep than alcoholics without other psychiatric diagnoses and normal control subjects. Both patient groups had significantly longer sleep latency and less sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and delta sleep than control subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Visibility distance of highway signs among young, middle-aged, and older observers: icons are better than text.

The visibility distances for young, middle-aged, and elderly observers of text and icon versions of four different highway signs were compared under day and dusk lighting conditions. No age differences were observed. Icon signs, however, were visible at much greater distances than were text signs for all three age groups, a difference that was more pronounced under dusk conditions. There were no age differences in the comprehension of icon signs, but there was considerable variability from one icon sign to another in the degree to which they were comprehended. Acuity was found to be a better predictor of the visibility distance of text signs in both day and dusk conditions than it was of icon signs. To the degree that they are comprehended, icon signs appear to offer drivers of all ages almost twice as much time in which to respond to them.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Balloon valvuloplasty.

Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty has been used for several years for the treatment of stenosis of all four cardiac valves. It has been particularly effective in pulmonary stenosis in children and in rheumatic mitral stenosis, especially in the younger age groups without severe calcification. After initial enthusiasm, results have not been as good in severe calcific aortic stenosis, although there is a place for aortic valvuloplasty in patients who are truly inoperable for reasons of age or coexisting disease. The procedure also may be applicable to occasional cases of tricuspid stenosis. The techniques used and results obtained with these procedures at Indiana University are described.

Adolescent↗