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Biomedical subjects

S Harris

Publications and source records attributed to S Harris.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Comparative effects of intravenous diphosphonates on calcium and skeletal metabolism in man.

We have assessed the early effects of three diphosphonates on calcium and skeletal homeostasis in 68 patients with Paget's disease of bone treated with daily intravenous infusions for five consecutive days. Both clodronate (300 mg/day) and aminohexane diphosphonate (AHDP; 50 mg/day) induced a fall in serum and urine calcium, and secondary hyperparathyroidism. In contrast, these changes were not observed with etidronate (300-700 mg/day) despite similar effects on bone resorption, as judged by urinary excretion of hydroxyproline with each of the three disphosphonates. Histological studies during the early phase of treatment indicated that etidronate, but not clodronate or AHDP, acutely impaired the accretion of calcium into bone, thereby offsetting a hypocalcaemic response. All three diphosphonates induced significant increases in plasma phosphate and tubular reabsorption of phosphate (TmP/GFR). The increase induced by etidronate remained significantly higher than pretreatment values for one month, whereas those induced by clodronate and AHDP were less marked and ill-sustained, and followed by significant decreases in both measurements. These data indicate that the effects of different diphosphonates on serum calcium homeostasis are heterogeneous, depending not only on the prevailing rate of bone resorption, but also on the rate of bone formation, and the effect of each diphosphonate on bone and mineral accretion.

Alkaline Phosphatase↗
PubMed1987

Biochemical and histological evidence that carcinoma of the prostate is associated with increased bone resorption.

We have investigated the hypothesis that carcinoma of the prostate with skeletal metastases is associated with increased bone resorption. In 54 affected patients a close correlation was observed between serum activity of alkaline phosphatase and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline (r = +0.818; P less than 0.001), comparable to that seen in Paget's disease of bone. The administration of synthetic salmon calcitonin (100 U subcutaneously) induced a significant fall in serum calcium and urinary excretion of hydroxyproline, proportional to the prevailing rate of bone turnover, as assessed by serum alkaline phosphatase or hydroxyprolinuria. Administration of the diphosphonate, etidronate, also decreased hydroxyprolinuria, suggesting that urinary hydroxyproline reflected increased rates of bone resorption in this disorder. Histology of bone in sites adjacent to and distant from skeletal metastases showed increased histological indices of bone resorption. These results suggest that the skeletal disease associated with prostatic carcinoma is characterized by generalized increases in bone resorption as well as focal increases in bone formation.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Pulsating globe in neurofibromatosis.

Orbital dysplasia is a well known finding associated with neurofibromatosis. This paper reviews a case of orbital dysplasia resulting in a pulsating globe. Clinical presentation, radiologic findings, differential diagnosis and prognosis are discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Efficacy and safety of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the therapy of diabetic neuropathy.

A study comparing ibuprofen (600 mg four times a day) vs sulindac (200 mg twice a day), and a placebo in the treatment of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy was conducted in 18 male outpatients. Discomfort was characterized and rated with a subjective neuropathy score. The response to both ibuprofen and sulindac was better than it was to placebo in the entire group. There were no changes in glucose control or renal function. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the significance of aldose reductase-inhibitor properties of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and to select the "best" one of these drugs for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.

Aldehyde Reductase↗
PubMed1987

Hearing in geriatric long-stay patients.

A study was made of the hearing of 197 geriatric long-stay patients aged 51 to 104 (mean 84) years. Information regarding hearing problems was collected by questionnaire, and hearing was tested with pure-tone audiometry after wax extraction. Only 55 patients were able to participate in the hearing test due to the high prevalence of dementia. For this category of patients it is probably necessary to use objective neurophysiological tests, such as brain stem audiometry and electrocochleography. All patients tested had considerably impaired hearing. Mean hearing loss in the speech area was 51 dB, indicating that a majority of the patients needed hearing aids. However, only one patient in 10 had such. Technical devices for amplification in the wards were scarce. It was evident that impaired hearing among geriatric long-stay patients was an underestimated and rather neglected problem, and a need for education among the nursing staff regarding communication problems was noted.

Aged↗
PubMed1986

Prenatal diagnosis of alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency by restriction fragment length polymorphisms, and comparison with oligonucleotide probe analysis.

Prenatal diagnosis of sixteen pregnancies at risk for alpha 1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency has been achieved by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and compared with diagnostic results using hybridisation of M and Z specific oligonucleotides. The results of both tests were in accord for all samples, although under routine laboratory conditions RFLP analysis was more reliable. Because RFLP analysis does not depend on the type of mutation it was possible, in the product of an MZ and SZ mating, to predict an MZ rather than an MS phenotype using the RFLP method. The strong linkage dysequilibrium between an AvaII RFLP and the Z allele increases its diagnostic usefulness. Even so it seems reasonable to use oligonucleotide analysis in families where no siblings are available for comparison. In all other situations RFLP analysis is as accurate and reliable as oligonucleotide analysis and is technically easier, making it the preferred means of diagnosis for informative kindreds.

Chromosome Mapping↗
PubMed1986

Postoperative CT findings in acoustic neurinomas operated upon by a translabyrinthine approach.

The findings at CT examinations, performed on 46 patients with acoustic neurinomas about 6 months after translabyrinthine surgery, were analyzed and compared with preoperative findings. Direct as well as indirect signs of expansion had disappeared postoperatively. Bulging of cerebellar tissue towards the operative defect in the petrous bone, a finding not connected with local adhesions, was notable. Hypodensity in the vicinity of the removed tumor occurred either due to local widening of the subarachnoid space or due to changes within the cerebellar parenchyma. Local and general widening of the fourth ventricle as a sign of atrophy was a frequent finding.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Services and educational approaches to adolescent pregnancy.

A historical review of adolescent pregnancy might be helpful if it could be studied for a particular country or in our own country for a particular state or city. Early information would for the most part be unreliable and where available, highly prejudicial. By providing contraceptives, family planning, counseling and abortion it was believed that teenage pregnancy could be prevented. It cannot be said that these techniques have failed. Maturing and self-discipline, however, are required to use the services properly that have been provided. Yet, neither maturity nor self-discipline is a major component of the adolescent life style. As more knowledge and understanding of adolescent pregnancy has become available, it has become apparent that this information has to be integrated into a comprehensive health care program. The Bronx Committee for the Community's Health, an incorporated group of eleven community health centers, is a unique model in the formation of a comprehensive, coordinated and accessible health care delivery system. A sixteen-week curriculum for 10-13 year olds, the Very Important Person (V.I.P.) program, teaches youngsters about developmental changes during puberty, and about reproductive physiology. There is an effort to promote health education for parents and children and to involve the parents in as many activities as possible in the schools, and in the community. There must be continued education for the nation's black leaders to enable them to relate specifically to the expressed needs and desires of black teens and their families. Continued efforts must be expended for political and legislative support to follow through on these initiatives until results can be evaluated and normal, healthy development of black teenagers can be assured.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Nucleotide sequence analysis of the lemur beta-globin gene family: evidence for major rate fluctuations in globin polypeptide evolution.

Lemur beta-related globin genes have been isolated and sequenced. Orthology of prosimian and human epsilon-, gamma-, and beta-related globin genes was established by dot-matrix analysis. All of these lemur globin genes potentially encode functional beta-related globin polypeptides, though precisely when the gamma-globin gene is expressed remains unknown. The organization of the 18-kb brown lemur beta-globin gene cluster (5' epsilon-gamma-[psi eta-delta]-beta 3') is consistent with its evolution by contraction via unequal crossing-over from the putative ancestral mammalian beta-globin gene cluster (5' epsilon-gamma-eta-delta-beta 3'). The dwarf lemur nonadult globin genes are arranged as in the brown lemur. Similar levels of synonymous (silent) nucleotide substitutions and noncoding DNA sequence differences have accumulated between species in all of these genes, suggesting a uniform rate of noncoding DNA divergence throughout primate beta-globin gene clusters. These differences are comparable with those observed in the nonfunctional psi eta pseudogene and have therefore accumulated at the presumably maximal neutral rate. In contrast, nonsynonymous (replacement) nucleotide substitutions show a significant heterogeneity in distribution for both the same gene in different lineages and different genes in the same lineage. These major fluctuations in replacement but not silent substitution rates cannot be attributed to changes in mutation rate, suggesting that changes in the rate of globin polypeptide evolution in primates is not governed solely by variable mutation rates.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

HCFA's termination process.

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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.↗