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Biomedical subjects

A Booth

Publications and source records attributed to A Booth.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1991

Divorce and psychological stress.

While research on adjustment to divorce has been extensive, the paucity of studies assessing stress before and after divorce has kept the relation between psychological stress and martial dissolution unclear. Conflicting findings cast some doubt on the utility of using a crisis model to study divorce. Analysis of three-wave panel data from a national sample of persons married in 1980 indicates that the crisis model is appropriate for understanding adjustment to divorce. Comparisons of divorced persons with married persons show a predivorce rise in stress which then returns to levels comparable to those reported by married individuals. No evidence was found supporting the idea that a high level of psychological stress is a general cause of divorce or that dissolution resulted in more or less permanent elevation of psychological stress. Findings support the hypothesis that predivorce resources and outlooks influence the amount of stress experienced in the two years immediately following divorce. Below median family incomes, no post-high school experience, and wife not in the labor force put divorcing individuals at a disadvantage. Individuals reporting few premarital troubles and beliefs in the immorality of divorce also appear to experience heightened stress in the two years following divorce.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Testosterone, and winning and losing in human competition.

Testosterone and cortisol were measured in six university tennis players across six matches during their varsity season. Testosterone rose just before most matches, and players with the highest prematch testosterone had the most positive improvement in mood before their matches. After matches, mean testosterone rose for winners relative to losers, especially for winners with very positive moods after their victories and who evaluated their own performance highly. Winners with rising testosterone had higher testosterone before their next match, in contrast to losers with falling testosterone, who had lower testosterone before their next match. Cortisol was not related to winning or losing, but it was related to seed (top players having low cortisol), and cortisol generally declined as the season progressed. These results are consistent with a biosocial theory of status.

Achievement↗
PubMed1989

The radiological manifestations of relapsing polychondritis.

Four patients with relapsing polychondritis are described. The radiological appearances of the arthropathy and the tracheobronchial involvement are illustrated, and the value of these findings in early diagnosis and management are emphasised.

Bronchography↗
PubMed1988

Barium enemas are a headache.

The frequency of headache after Picolax (sodium picosulphate, Nordic Ltd) preparation for barium enema was investigated and its association with dehydration, as assessed by haemoconcentration, was determined. Eleven out of 41 patients (26.8%) complained specifically of headaches. Although patients with and without headaches developed significant increases in haemoglobin concentration after Picolax preparation, the rise in haemoglobin in those with headaches was significantly greater than in those without (P less than 0.05). In both groups the haemoglobin concentration returned to normal after a bowel washout. These results suggest an association between dehydration and headache developing after a Picolax regimen. It may be possible to prevent this symptom by advising on the intake of specific volumes of fluid during preparation for barium enema.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

A phase I trial of recombinant interferon-alpha and alpha-difluoromethylornithine in metastatic melanoma.

Both interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) have shown modest activity as single-agent therapy in the treatment of malignant melanoma. Several investigators have demonstrated true synergism in vitro of the combination of DFMO and IFN-alpha against human tumor cells, including melanoma. We have investigated this combination in 17 patients with malignant melanoma in a Phase I trial. Patients were treated with 4 or 6 g/m2/day of oral DFMO in 3 divided doses for 11 days, followed by a 3-day rest period. Concomitant administration of 1.5, 3.0, 6.0 or 9.0 x 10(6) U/m2 IFN-alpha intramuscularly was given. The maximum tolerated dose was 4 g/m2/day of DFMO plus 6 x 10(6) U/m2/day of IFN-alpha. Dose-limiting toxicity occurred in 3 of 3 patients receiving 9 x 10(6) U/m2 IFN-alpha and consisted of leukopenia, fatigue, and weight loss. Other toxicities were mild and included reversible hearing loss, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Three responses were seen, including one partial response (PR) of soft tissue metastases, one PR of lung and liver, and one complete response of liver metastases without clearance of carcinomatous meningitis. A Phase II trial has been initiated based on these encouraging results.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

A phase II study of alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) for the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) is an irreversible enzyme-activated inhibitor of ornithine decarboxylase, a key enzyme in polyamine synthesis. We have screened for potential anti-cancer activity of DFMO using a clonogenic assay, which suggested that melanoma might have sensitivity to this agent. Accordingly, we have performed a phase II trial of DFMO (2 g/m2 po q 8 h) in 24 patients, 21 of whom were evaluable for response. One patient achieved a complete response of a large subcutaneous mass for 11 months. Although stabilization is frequently difficult to measure, seven patients appeared to stabilize previously active disease, with a median duration of response of eight weeks. Toxicity was significant and DFMO was discontinued in five patients due to side effects - hearing loss alone in four and hearing loss associated with thrombocytopenia in the fifth patient. Hearing changes occurred in ten patients. Other side effects were mild. These data indicate that DFMO as a single agent may be an effective therapy for melanoma. A phase II trial of DFMO in previously untreated patients using a different schedule to decrease hearing loss is warranted. Additionally, several in vitro and animal models suggest that DFMO plus interferon are synergistic, and this combination might be used for a clinical trial as well.

Adult↗
PubMed1978

Malonaldehyde formation in intact platelets is catalysed by thromboxane synthase.

Imidazole and compound L8027 (selective inhibitors of thromboxane synthase) produced parallel inhibition of malonaldehyde and thromboxane B2 secretion induced by collagen or thrombin in gel-filtered suspensions of human platelets. Comparing the effects of these inhibitors and aspirin on secretion of granule constituents indicated that platelet degranulation depends mainly on thromboxane production; prostaglandin endoperoxides contributed little.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1976

The cessation of marital intercourse.

The authors found that marital coitus had ceased for a definable period (median=8 weeks) in one-third of a sample of 144 men and 221 women who were relatively young and had been married an average of 11 years. An analysis of factors related to the social background and marital relationship of the respondents indicated that the cessation behavior of men is more highly predictable than that of women and that antecedents of this behavior differ markedly between the sexes. The authors suggest that, even among relatively young couples, marital intercourse is discontinous and problematic.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Crowding and health.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Communicable Diseases↗
PubMed1976

Crowding and human reproduction.

Studies of crowding in lower animals repeatedly demonstrate that compressed living conditions depress the ability of the species to reproduce. In a sample of 470 urban Toronto women we examined the effect of neighborhood and household crowding on the probability of a pregnancy and on the probability that any given product of the pregnancy will not survive until one year of age. Crowding did not influence fertility nor fetal and infant survival within the range of crowding found in this sample. If crowding has any influence on reproduction it would more profitably be investigated beyond the range of living density and housing markets found in North American urban areas.

Abortion, Legal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Arterial embolization in the management of liver metastases.

Hepatic arterial embolization has been shown to be a safe and effective method for the palliation of symptoms in patients with metastatic disease, particularly those with secondary deposits from endocrine tumors. This review examines the indications for the procedure, discusses some aspects of technique, and assesses the potential benefits and complications of the method.

Embolization, Therapeutic↗