Biomedical subjects
S Lightman
Publications and source records attributed to S Lightman.
Occurrence and extracellular actions of inositol pentakis- and hexakisphosphate in mammalian brain.
Although inositol 1,3,4,5,6-pentakisphosphate (InsP5) and hexakisphosphate (InsP6) have been recognized for some time as naturally-occurring metabolites of inositol, their occurrence in mammalian cell types, including one of neural origin, has only recently been documented. This is of interest because of the recognized second messenger role of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) in intracellular signalling; coupling surface stimuli to cytoplasmic calcium discharge. The metabolism, existence in normal mature tissues, and possible functional roles of these inositol polyphosphates are unknown. Here we report evidence that InsP5 and InsP6 are synthesized in intact brain after labelling with [3H]inositol in vivo. We also show that local infusion of InsP5 and InsP6 into a discrete brain stem nucleus implicated in cardiovascular regulation, results in dose-dependent changes in heart rate and blood pressure.
The role of stressors and psychosocial variables in the stress process: a study of chronic caregiver stress.
OBJECTIVE: An investigation was conducted 1) to examine the relative importance of stressor types (ie, daily hassles, caregiving-specific stressors, and life events) on the stress response, 2) to assess the stability of relationships between psychosocial variables and stress over a 6-month period, and 3) to explore how the nature and magnitude of the contributions made by stressors and psychosocial factors to the stress process varied according to the qualitative characteristics of the stress response (ie, anxiety, depression, and stress). METHODS: Fifty spousal caregivers of patients with dementia were recruited and asked to participate in a detailed psychosocial evaluation at 3-month intervals; the evaluation involved measurement of stressor frequency, psychosocial variables, and indices of the stress response (ie, anxiety, depression, and stress). RESULTS: The data revealed that the effects of stressors and psychosocial factors on the stress response were considerable (accounting for 49-63% of the variance in stress response measures). Furthermore, there was some evidence of stability in the effects of the stressor and mediator variables on the stress response. Specifically, the contributions of life events and caregiver difficulties were largely consistent at both 3 and 6 months, and the psychosocial factor of "reactive coping and self-appraisal" influenced all three stress response indices at both 3 and 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: There is some evidence of stability in the effects of stressors and psychosocial variables on the stress process over a 6-month period. However, it would also seem that the nature of the stress process differs according to the qualitative characteristics of the stress response.
The eye in AIDS.
The most common ocular problem arising in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is opportunistic infection of the retina by cytomegalovirus. There are, however, other causes of retinitis and unusual ocular diseases associated with AIDS, the diagnosis and management of which are reviewed in this article.