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Biomedical subjects

W R Miller

Publications and source records attributed to W R Miller.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Differences among AA groups: implications for research.

Clinical writings and research often imply the homogeneity of Alcoholics Anonymous. Survey data from four groups reflected some consistencies as well as substantial variation in group environment that could have an important impact on outcomes and research.

Alcoholics Anonymous↗
PubMed1993

Behavioral treatments for drug problems: lessons from the alcohol treatment outcome literature.

Behavioral approaches have a strong track record in the treatment of alcohol problems. They are generally cost-effective (Holder et al. 1991), can be readily combined with and enhance the effectiveness of pharmacologic interventions (e.g., Azrin et al. 1982), and have been found to be applicable all along the continuum of problem severity. Cognitive-behavioral strategies appear to be particularly helpful in addressing common problems of treatment motivation, retention, and compliance. There is no reason to expect substantially different findings when behavioral strategies are applied in the treatment of other drug problems.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1992

The effectiveness of treatment for substance abuse. Reasons for optimism.

Reviews of treatment research have sometimes drawn gloomy conclusions which clash with the experience of clinicians. Yet the same literature provides reasons for optimism about the future of substance abuse treatment. There are treatment strategies with encouraging evidence of effectiveness that are only beginning to be applied in practice. Furthermore, research is clarifying the mechanisms and reasons for successful treatment, pointing to factors to be emphasized in therapy. Approaches that yield even short-term advantages can promote more rapid recovery, and may provide clues for how to prevent relapse. In difficult economic times, hope is also provided by evidence that even relatively brief treatment can be substantially more effective than none at all. Recent evidence also supports the importance of matching clients to alternative treatment strategies. To the extent that practitioners can keep abreast of such developments and adjust their clinical work accordingly, there is reason to believe that the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment can be greatly increased.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1992

Mitogenic effects of epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha on EGF-receptor positive human ovarian carcinoma cell lines.

The role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) in the growth modulation of three human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell lines, PEO1, PEO4 and PEO14, has been examined by measuring responses of the cells growing in monolayer culture to exogenous addition of the growth factors. The presence of EGF receptors in the cell lines has been confirmed by ligand binding and immunocytochemical staining using a monoclonal antibody directed against the EGF receptor. The growth of all three cell lines was stimulated by both EGF and TGF-alpha. Dose-response effects were noted with the greatest growth stimulation occurring at concentrations between 0.1 and 10 nmol/l. The stimulatory effects of EGF and TGF-alpha were accompanied by changes in the cell cycle distribution as detected by flow cytometric analysis. It is concluded that EGF and TGF-alpha are important growth regulators in these EGF-receptor positive ovarian cancer cells.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

Transforming growth factor-beta mRNA expression and growth control of human ovarian carcinoma cells.

The pattern of TGF beta expression and in vitro response to TGF beta has been defined in three ovarian carcinoma cell lines (PEO1, PEO4 and PEO14). Marked differences in both mRNA expression and growth responses were detected between the cell lines. All expressed mRNA for TGF beta 3, PEO1 and PEO4 but not PEO14 expressed mRNA for TGF beta 1, whereas PEO14 but not PEO1 and PEO4 expressed TGF beta 2. Growth of PEO14 cells in culture was markedly inhibited by both TGF beta 1 and beta 2. PEO1 cells were inhibited by TGF beta 1, but not TGF beta 2 whilst growth of PEO4 cells were not affected by exposure to either of these peptides. These data indicate that several elements of potential autocrine loops involving TGF beta's are present within ovarian cancer cells.

Cell Cycle↗
PubMed1992

Growth control by epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha in human lung squamous carcinoma cells.

Although EGF receptor expression is generally elevated in human lung squamous carcinoma, the biological significance of this phenomenon and the role of EGF and TGF-alpha in this disease are poorly understood. We have investigated three human lung squamous carcinoma cell lines (NX002, CX140 and CX143) and have shown, using an antibody (EGFR1) directed against the EGF receptor, that the majority of cells in all three lines express the EGF receptor. Using a ligand binding assay, Scatchard analysis indicated high concentrations (1,300-2,700 fmol mg-1 protein) of a single low affinity binding site (Kd = 3-5 nM) within these lines. Addition of EGF or TGF-alpha at concentrations greater than 0.1 nM resulted in growth inhibition of all three lines and this was associated with an accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Growth inhibitory effects were not explained by an enhancement of cellular differentiation as monitored by involucrin expression and the ability to form cornified envelopes. While the presence of EGF could not be detected in medium conditioned by the NX002 cell line, mRNA for TGF-alpha was detected in all three lines suggesting the possibility of an autocrine loop. These results together with reports of growth inhibition by EGF and TGF-alpha in other systems suggest that EGF and similar molecules might have a growth regulatory role in lung cancer cells and modulation of such may have therapeutic potential.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1992

Acute myocarditis in fulminant systemic sclerosis.

Myositis and myocarditis have been reported in progressive systemic sclerosis, and these patients have had favorable therapeutic responses to intravenous pulse methylprednisolone. Thus far, premortem biopsy documentation of myocarditis and myocardial fibrosis has not been reported in such patients. We report the case of a patient with subacute congestive heart failure six months after she developed Raynaud's phenomenon. Clinical examination was typical of scleroderma but there was no proximal muscle weakness. She had elevated creatine kinase and MB-creatine kinase and laboratory evidence of hypothyroidism. Echocardiogram demonstrated four-chamber dilatation and severe left ventricular dysfunction. Cardiac catheterization revealed normal epicardial coronary arteries and severely decreased cardiac index. A skin biopsy specimen of the forearm was consistent with diffuse systemic sclerosis, and an endomyocardial biopsy specimen demonstrated mild fibrosis and lymphocytic infiltrate. Her heart failure initially improved with digoxin, furosemide, and enalapril. She also received L-thyroxine and intravenous methylprednisolone. The heart failure progressed over the next six weeks and she died. Patients with scleroderma and new-onset heart failure may have acute myocarditis.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1992

Long-term follow-up of behavioral self-control training.

Four samples of problem drinkers treated by behavioral self-control training were evaluated at 3.5, 5, 7 and 8 years following treatment, respectively. Of 140 cases, 99 (71%) were accounted for: 23 abstinent, 14 with controlled and asymptomatic drinking, 22 improved but still impaired, 35 unremitted and 5 deceased. Abstinent versus controlled-drinking outcomes were most strongly differentiated by pretreatment severity of alcohol problems and dependence and by the patients' pretreatment self-assessment and goals. Percentages of abstainers and of relapsed cases increased at long-term follow-ups. A reasonably constant percentage of known outcomes (14%) were clearly controlled and asymptomatic drinkers in each of the follow-up samples. Most of the long-term controlled drinkers had established this pattern within the first year following treatment. However, periods of controlled drinking during the first year did not reliably predict maintenance of this pattern. Successful asymptomatic drinkers were discriminable from other outcomes based on pretreatment characteristics.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1992

Using biological measurements, can patients with benign breast disease who are at high risk for breast cancer be identified?

In order to address the question of whether biological measurements might identify women with benign breast disease (BBD) at particular risk for breast cancer, analyses were performed on cyst fluids aspirated from patients presenting with palpable breast cysts. Electrolyte profiles showed that cyst fluids may be divided into major subpopulations which differ in terms of histological appearance of cyst lining epithelium, pattern of cyst presentation, and levels of other fluid constituents such as androgen conjugates and epidermal growth factor. Analysis of cyst fluids from 18 patients who subsequently developed breast cancer 1 to 8 years later showed that 12 individuals had group A cysts, three had group B cysts, and three presented with a mixture of the two types. Therefore, although this represents an increased proportion of group A cysts as compared with the total population of cyst fluids studied over the same time period, individuals subsequently developing breast cancer were not confined to one subgroup of cysts. Androgen conjugate and growth factor content also did not predict for subsequent cancer. At the present time, it is therefore concluded that biochemical measurements in cyst fluids cannot accurately identify women likely to develop breast cancer. However, the routine aspiration of cysts does provide the opportunity to monitor the local microenvironment of the breast.

Androgens↗
PubMed1991

The Helpful Responses Questionnaire: a procedure for measuring therapeutic empathy.

The development and evaluation of a measure of accurate empathy is described. The Helpful Responses Questionnaire (HRQ) is a brief free response questionnaire that can be administered to groups. Interrater reliability coefficients for items range from .71 to .91, and reliability for total HRQ scores was found to be .93. HRQ scores rose significantly following a 2-day workshop on active listening and crisis intervention skills offered in 14 communities. Normative data are reported based on a sample of 190 paraprofessional trainees. Level of empathy was found to be modestly related to respondents' self-esteem.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Mutagens in human breast cyst fluid.

Cyst fluids aspirated from patients presenting with palpable cysts of the breast were analysed for mutagenic activity, as determined by the Ames test. Of the 439 women studied, 9.6% had mutagen-positive fluids. There was no obvious relationship between the presence of mutagen-positive fluids and clinical or epidemiological details of the women from which they were obtained. Preliminary characterisation of the mutagenic activity suggested that the responsible agents have diverse chemical properties.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Factors influencing the response of MCF-7 cells to an agonist of luteinising hormone-releasing hormone.

To clarify the mechanism by which the luteinising hormone-releasing hormone agonist, buserelin, may have direct effects on breast cancer cells, factors potentially influencing its action have been studied in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Oestradiol and epidermal growth factor (EGF), which stimulate the growth of MCF-7 cells in culture, reversed, at least in part, the inhibitory effects of buserelin. Insulin also abolished growth inhibition. Quantitative effects of buserelin differed according to the batch of fetal calf serum used as media supplement. These data suggest that the direct inhibitory effects of buserelin on breast cancer cells are mediated at least in part by an antagonism of growth-promoting factors.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1991

Zinc alpha-2 glycoprotein levels in serum and breast fluids: a potential marker of apocrine activity.

Zinc alpha-2 glycoprotein (ZnGP) was measured in human breast microcysts, breast secretions, breast cyst fluid and serum. Detectable amounts of ZnGP were found in all fluids but the highest levels were found in microcysts. Apocrine macrocysts had a higher ZnGP level than flattened macrocysts. In both cysts and secretions levels of ZnGP correlated with those of dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate. Levels were significantly higher in cyst fluids from women who developed further cysts during follow-up compared with those in fluid from women who did not. Concentrations of ZnGP in serum from breast cancer patients were significantly higher than controls but not women with breast cysts. Women with node positive breast cancer had higher serum levels compared with those in node negative patients. Women with more advanced breast cancer had higher serum ZnGP levels than those with earlier disease. ZnGP is a serum and breast marker of apocrine activity and may prove to be a useful prognostic marker in breast cancer.

Apocrine Glands↗