PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

B Ferris

Publications and source records attributed to B Ferris.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Effect of intensity of physical activity on body fatness and fat distribution.

To evaluate the effect of intensity of physical activity on body fatness and fat distribution, observations of 1366 women and 1257 men who participated in the 1981 Canada Fitness Survey were analyzed. Subjects were tested for energy expenditure of leisure-time activities and estimated maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), body fatness was measured by subcutaneous skinfold thicknesses, and anthropometric measurements were made. Subjects of both sexes were categorized into four subgroups on the basis of their participation in leisure-time activities of various intensities. In general, subjects practicing vigorous activities on a regular basis had lower subcutaneous skinfold thicknesses and waist-to-hip ratios (WHRs) than those not performing these activities. These differences remained statistically significant after a covariance analysis was used to remove the effect of total energy expenditure of leisure-time activities on subcutaneous fat and fat distribution. Moreover, the WHR remained significantly lower in subjects performing high-intensity exercise after the effect of subcutaneous fat on fat distribution was adjusted for.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1988

Screening for scoliosis.

We compared two groups of consecutive patients presenting to a scoliosis center: viz., 214 children from 1974 to 1978 and 100 children from 1984 to 1986. The number of curves detected by school screening increased from 10 percent to 33 percent, and the size of the curves at presentation decreased from 49 to 33 degrees. Half the curves were still detected by families and friends. School screening for scoliosis has increased detection of curves at an early stage when bracing may be successful.

Child↗
PubMed1987

The treatment of congenital knee dislocation. A review of nineteen knees.

The treatment of 19 congenitally dislocated knees in 11 patients is reviewed. The knees were subdivided into genu recurvatum, subluxation and dislocation. Nine knees were treated conservatively and ten surgically. A good result was obtained with conservative treatment if started before the age of three months; after this, surgery was likely to be required and was satisfactory if undertaken before two years of age. A successful surgical result was achieved with quadriceps lengthening. If the quadriceps tendon and the anterior cruciate ligament were divided, then only fair results were achieved. Untreated, patients developed stiff, unstable knees.

Female↗
PubMed1985

Paraplegia due to aspergillosis. Successful conservative treatment of two cases.

Aspergillus infection of the spine is rare; for it to lead to paraplegia is still more rare. When this does occur it is usually treated by decompression and antifungal agents, but the results have usually been poor. We report two cases of successful conservative treatment of Aspergillus paraplegia in patients with chronic granulomatous disease.

Amphotericin B↗
PubMed1981

Multiple molecular forms of endothelial cell factor VIII related antigen.

Heterogeneous factor VIII related antigen isolated from endothelial cell postculture medium was characterized. On crossed immunoelectrophoresis, slow moving less anodal populations of factor VIII related antigen molecules were more prominent in endothelial cell postculture medium than in plasma. The protein synthesized by endothelial cells appeared as two discrete protein bands of different molecular weight in sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels. In contrast the factor VIII related antigen isolated from plasma moved as a single protein band in an identical gel system. The factor VIII related antigen from endothelial cell postculture medium was immunoisolated using monospecific rabbit antibody to normal human plasma factor VIII related antigen, electrophoresed on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels, radiolabeled with 125I, trypsinized and subjected to peptide mapping using two-dimensional high voltage electrophoresis and thin-layer chromatography. The two forms of endothelial cell factor VIII antigen had virtually identical peptide maps. These studies suggest that the molecular heterogeneity of the factor VIII related antigen system reflects polymeric associations of identical subunits. Circulation in vivo may alter the ratio of polymer subsets.

Animals↗
PubMed1980

Respiratory disease rates and pulmonary function in children associated with NO2 exposure.

As part of a long-range, prospective study of the health effects of air pollution, approximately 8,000 children from 6 yrs to 10 yrs of age from 6 communities had questionnaires completed by their parents and had simple spirometry performed in school. Comparisons were made between children living in homes with gas stoves and those living in homes with electric stoves. Children from households with gas stoves had a greater history of respiratory illness before age 2 (average difference, 32.5/1,000 children) and small but significantly lower levels of FEV1 and FVC corrected for height (average difference, 16 ml and 18 ml, respectively). These findings were not explained by differences in social class or by parental smoking habits. Measurements taken in the homes for 24-h periods showed that NO2 levels were 4 to 7 times higher in homes with gas stoves than in homes with electric stoves. However, these 24-h measurements were generally well below the current federal 24-h outdoor standard of 100 micrograms/m3. Short-term peak exposures, which were in excess of 1,100 micrograms/m3, regularly occurred in kitchens. Further work will be required to determine the importance of these short-term peaks in explaining the effects noted.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed1979

Structural analysis of human platelet membrane glycoprotein I complex.

The glycoprotein I complex, consisting of two polypeptides of Mr 210,000 and 150,000, was isolated from human platelet membranes by wheat germ lectin affinity chromatography. Glycocalicin, a soluble loosely bound membrane glycoprotein of Mr 150,000 related to the glycoprotein I system, was also purified. The isolated polypeptides were radioiodinated in sodium dodecyl sulfate/polyacrylamide gels and digested with trypsin, and the labeled peptide digest was analyzed by two-dimensional high-voltage electrophoresis and thin-layer chromatography. The two polypeptides of Mr 210,000 and 150,000 in the glycoprotein I complex had essentially identical radioactive peptide maps. Glycocalicin had a completely different tryptic peptide map. These studies shed light on the molecular relationships of some of the components of the platelet membrane glycoprotein I system. The possibility is raised that the receptorlike function of the intrinsic platelet membrane glycoproteins may be related to the polymeric subunit associations of the constituent polypeptides.

Blood Platelets↗
PubMed1975

Mortality patterns among workers exposed to chloromethyl ethers--a preliminary report.

Chloromethyl methyl ether (CMME) has been used extensively as a crosslinking agent for ion-exchange resins. Commercial grades of CMME are contaminated to the extent of 2-8% with bischloromethyl ether, an alkylating agent which has been shown to be a very potent lung carcinogen in animals. Reports by other investigators in this and other countries have implicated CMME as a lung carcinogen in chemical workers. The purpose of the study reported here was to examine the lung cancer mortality experience with respect to intensity and duration of exposure in six of the seven chemical companies that account for virtually all of the CMME use in the United States. The study included about 1800 workers who were exposed in the period 1948 to 1972 and about 8000 workers not exposed to CMME from the same plants who served as controls. Exposed workers were characterized according to job description and duration of exposure. In several plants the intensity of exposure was numerically graded for each job category with adjustment for temporal changes in the plant processes. Social Security records were used to identify deaths among workers who had left the companies and death certificates have been obtained for virtually all known deaths. The age-adjusted death rate for respiratory cancer in the CMME exposed group as a whole was 2.5 times that in the control group, whereas death rates due to other causes were comparable. There was also a gradation of lung cancer risk according to intensity and duration of exposure and the time elapsed since the onset of exposure.

Adolescent↗