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Biomedical subjects

A D Hart

Publications and source records attributed to A D Hart.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Chemical composition of indigenous wild herbs, spices, fruits, nuts and leafy vegetables used as food.

Thirty wild fruits, nuts, herbs, spices and leafy vegetables were characterized and their chemical composition determined. Some of them were not only used for food, but for medicine in minor aliments by the natives. Results of the proximate analysis showed that on dry weight basis, the crude protein content ranged from 4.6 to 22.1 percent for spices and herbs, 3.2 to 43.1 percent for fruits and nuts, and 15.9 to 35.7 percent for leafy vegetables. The fat (ether extract) ranged from 7.5 to 36.0 percent for spices and herbs, 1.8 to 72.6 percent for fruits and nuts and 10.6 to 22.6 percent for leafy vegetables. Total carbohydrate content ranged from 34.6 to 71.9 percent for spices and herbs, 11.3 to 76.1 percent for fruits and nuts, and 24.6 to 51.4 percent for leafy vegetables. The wild fruits, nuts and leafy vegetables are high in ascorbic acid (Vitamin C.) Ascorbic acid content ranged from 18 mg/100 g dry sample to 113 mg/100 g sample for fruits and nuts, and 23 mg/100 g to 232 mg/100 g sample for leafy vegetables. The levels for peroxide value and free fatty acids (as percent oleic acid) of the spices are generally low indicating good storage stability of these plant materials. The flavour imparting essential oils (as percent oleoresin) content of the spices/herbs were fairly high and ranged from 0.1 to 5.2 percent.

Ascorbic Acid↗
PubMed1994

Effect of processing and storage on the ascorbic acid (vitamin C) content of some pineapple varieties grown in the Rivers State of Nigeria.

Ascorbic acid contents of the juice of four different pineapples species grown in the Rivers State of Nigeria were determined before and after storage of whole pineapple and processing and storage of the juice for two months. Ascorbic acid of the fresh juice ranged from 22.5 mg to 33.5 mg/100 g sample. After storage at room temperature (30-32 degrees C) of whole pineapple for two weeks, ascorbic acid was reduced to between 59 and 65 percent of the fresh juice. Processing the juice by pasteurisation reduced the ascorbic acid to between 28 and 46 percent while storage in plastic bottles for two months further reduced the ascorbic acid content to between 10 and 21 percent.

Ascorbic Acid↗
PubMed1990

The effect of methylxanthines on milk volume and composition, and growth of rat pups.

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of differential dose levels of methylxanthines on lactational performance, with respect to milk volume and composition and pup growth. The methylxanthines; caffeine, theophylline and theobromine, were administered via drinking water in the proportions occurring in tea, at a dose of 50, 1 and 2 mg/kg body-weight respectively to Wistar albino rats throughout pregnancy and for up to the 14th day of lactation. A fourth group received a mixture of all three methylxanthines. Maternal food and fluid intake and weight changes, as well as weight gain in the litter were monitored thrice weekly. Milk samples were collected from the dams on days 7 and 14 of lactation, while milk volume was measured on days 12-13 by a method using tritiated water. Results showed that caffeine and theobromine significantly enhanced litter weight (P less than 0.01 and 0.05 respectively). In the caffeine group, enhanced litter growth was due to a significant increase (P less than 0.05) in milk volume, consequent to increased maternal food intake (P less than 0.05). In the theobromine group there was only a weak association between increased litter weight and milk volume. Theophylline had no effect on the volume or composition of milk, or litter weight. The combination of all three methylxanthines also failed to produce any of the positive effects observed with separate drug treatments.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Effect of methylxanthines on lactational performance of rats.

Caffeine, theophylline and theobromine are commonly consumed methylxanthines. There are conflicting reports that methylxanthines may adversely affect the outcome of pregnancy. The effects of methylxanthines on lactational performance were investigated by administration of pure alkaloids via drinking water to Wistar albino rats throughout pregnancy and lactation. Litter growth was used as an index of lactational performance in relation to maternal food and fluid intake, changes in weight, and lipid content of the carcass. Caffeine induced increased fluid intake (p less than 0.01). While theophylline produced no significant differences in litter growth, maternal weight and carcass fat during pregnancy/lactation compared with controls, caffeine and theobromine significantly enhanced litter growth (p less than 0.05 and 0.01, respectively). The enhancement in pup growth did not involve increases in maternal food intake or maternal lipid mobilization.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

A comparison of skin temperature and EMG training for primary dysmenorrhea.

Eleven female volunteers completed a 6-month treatment program consisting of a 2-month baseline phase, 2 months of biofeedback training (X number of sessions = 12.9), and 2 months of follow-up data collection. Subjects were assigned to one of two treatment groups: skin temperature training or EMG training of the frontalis muscle. Self-report data were gathered by means of the Symptom Severity Scale. Results, which were analyzed according to a 2 X 3 (treatment X phase) split-plot factorial design, indicate a highly significant overall treatment effect (F = 19.32 p less than .001). There was no significant difference between treatments (F = .47) and no significant interaction effect (F = 1.74).

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Early auditory information processing in schizophrenia: a preliminary report.

Numerous theorists have postulated that incoming environmental information is altered with schizophrenic illness, due to aberrant sensory processing in subcortical systems. Brainstem evoked potential recordings were obtained during passive auditory information processing in groups of chronic schizophrenic patients, affective disordered patients, and normals. These neuroelectric measures of brainstem and midbrain functioning suggest that the three study groups do not statistically differ in terms of latency characteristics. It is noteworthy, however, that a particular subset of chronic schizophrenic patients yielded latency characteristics falling more than one standard deviation from the total population mean under all experimental conditions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Close monitoring is essential during isoniazid prophylaxis.

A three-year prospective study during the entire course of preventive therapy with isoniazid (INH) for recently infected hospital employees was undertaken to evaluate the risk of developing INH-related hepatic injury. Results of clinical and laboratory tests at 1, 2, 6, and 12 months were correlated to ascertain the significance and value of monitoring procedures. Thirty-two (32%) of 100 employees developed elevated SGOT levels: one (1%) patient developed clinical hepatitis in the first month of therapy; four (4%) subjects with SGOT elevations (82-378 units) became clinically symptomatic at one to four months and INH was discontinued; one (1%) individual with minimal increases in serum bilirubin and SGOT levels was symptomatic at eight months and the drug was stopped. Twenty-four (24%) otherwise asymptomatic subjects who developed SGOT elevations (70-480 units) were followed at closer intervals to complete INH therapy without further progression of liver function abnormality. The intervals between the beginning of treatment and the elevation of SGOT levels varied widely, with elevations occurring throughout the 12-month course of isoniazid therapy.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Automated reinforcement of head posture in two cerebral palsied retarded children.

A transistor radio activated by a mercury switch was used to reinforce head posture in two retarded children with severe cerebral palsy. Under the contingent music condition dropping the head forward automatically terminated the broadcast (music). A comparison of baseline and treatment phases showed that head orientation was strongly controlled by contingent music.

Adolescent↗