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Biomedical subjects

B Sanford

Publications and source records attributed to B Sanford.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum): a review of the current pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical literature.

RATIONALE: St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) has recently gained popularity as an alternative treatment for mild to moderate depression. Given the current widespread use of this herbal remedy, it is important for medical professionals to understand the potential pharmacological pathways through which Hypericum may exert an antidepressant effect. OBJECTIVES: (1) To review the current pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical literature available on Hypericum, and (2) to provide a synthesis of this information into a form that may be easily used by health care providers. METHOD: A comprehensive review of the recent scientific literature (January 1990-March 2000) was performed using the following electronic databases and reference publications: MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, HealthSTAR, Current Contents (all editions), European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy monographs, German Commission E monographs, and the Physicians' Desk Reference for Herbal Medicines, 1st edition. RESULTS: One hundred and seven (107) publications in the English language and three publications in German were included in the review. Collectively, the data suggest that therapeutic preparations of Hypericum extract appear to exert potentially significant pharmacological activity within several neurochemical systems believed to be implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. However, little information exists regarding the safety of Hypericum, including potential herb-drug interactions. CONCLUSIONS: Additional research on the pharmacological and biochemical activity of Hypericum and its several bioactive constituents is necessary to further elucidate the mode(s) of antidepressant action. Given what is currently known and unknown about the biological properties of Hypericum, those who choose to use this herb should be closely monitored by a physician.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Human melatonin regulation is not mediated by the three cone photopic visual system.

The aim of this study was to test if the three cone photopic visual system is the primary ocular photoreceptor input for human circadian regulation by determining the effects of different wavelengths on light-induced melatonin suppression. Healthy subjects with stable sleeping patterns (wake-up time 7:30 AM +/- 12 min) and normal color vision were exposed at night to full-field 505 nm or 555 nm monochromatic stimuli or darkness for 90 min. Plasma collected before and after exposures was quantified for melatonin. Subjects exposed to 10 irradiances at 505 nm showed no significant differences across mean pre-exposure melatonin values (F=0.505). A sigmoidal fluence-response curve fitted to the melatonin suppression data (R(2)=0.97) indicated that 9.34 x 10(12) photons/cm(2)/sec induced a half-saturation response (ED(50)) while 6.84 x 10(13) photons/cm(2)/sec induced a saturation melatonin suppression response. Further, a dose of 4.19 x 10(13) photon/cm(2)/sec at 505 nm was significantly stronger (P < 0.01) than an equal photon dose at 555 nm for melatonin suppression. These data demonstrate that the cone system that mediates human photopic vision is not the primary photoreceptor system to tranduce light stimuli for melatonin regulation.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Influence of near-ultraviolet radiation on reproductive and immunological development in juvenile male Siberian hamsters.

The aim of this study was to characterize the lenticular ultraviolet transmission of the Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) and to probe the range of near-ultraviolet (UV-A, 315-400 nm) and visible wavelengths (400-760 nm) for modulating the photoperiodic regulation of its reproductive and immune systems. Ocular lenses from adult hamsters were found to transmit UV-A wavelengths at similar levels to visible wavelengths, with a short-wavelength cut-off of 300 nm. Five separate studies compared the responses of juvenile male hamsters to long photoperiods (16 h:8 h L:D), short photoperiods (10 h:14 h L:D) and short photoperiods interrupted by an equal photon pulse of monochromatic light of 320, 340, 360, 500 or 725 nm during the night. The results show that UV-A wavelengths at 320, 340 and 360 nm can regulate both reproductive and immune short-photoperiod responses as effectively as visible monochromatic light at 500 nm. In contrast, long-wavelength visible light at 725 nm did not block the short-photoperiod responses. These results suggest that both wavelengths in the visible spectrum, together with UV-A wavelengths, contribute to hamster photoperiodism in natural habitats.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The effect of polarized versus nonpolarized light on melatonin regulation in humans.

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of polarized light versus nonpolarized light on melatonin secretion in healthy, humans (mean age, 25 years; N = 6). On separate evenings, each subject was exposed to four different light intensities (20, 40, 80 and 3200 lx) of both polarized and nonpolarized light, as well as to a control, dark exposure. Each evening experiment consisted of a 120 min dark exposure (0000-0200 h) followed by a 90 min light exposure (0200-0330 h). Subjects' pupils were dilated prior to exposures. Blood samples were drawn at the start and end of each light-exposure period and later assayed for melatonin by radioimmunoassay. When compared to control exposures, both polarized and nonpolarized light elicited significant suppression of plasma melatonin at each illuminance (P < 0.03 to P < 0.0001), There were no significant differences between the effects of polarized light and nonpolarized light at any illuminance. The two light stimuli modalities demonstrated very similar fluence-response relationships between illuminance and melatonin suppression. Thus, the human pineal gland is responsive to ocular exposure with polarized light in a dose-dependent manner similar to that of nonpolarized light, although no significant differences were detected between polarized and nonpolarized light on melatonin regulation.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Predicting compliance of dual diagnosis inpatients with aftercare treatment.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with comorbid diagnoses of a substance use disorder and at least one other axis I mental disorder have low rates of compliance with aftercare. The purpose of the study was to identify predictors of noncompliance among dual diagnosis inpatients. METHODS: Characteristics of 48 dual diagnosis inpatients were examined. Compliance was defined as visiting the aftercare site at least three times. RESULTS: Persons with a diagnosis of cocaine dependence were significantly more likely to be noncompliant with aftercare than those with a diagnosis of cocaine abuse. Patients with a discharge diagnosis of any type of depression were more likely to be noncompliant than those without such a diagnosis. During inpatient treatment, patients who were subsequently noncompliant with aftercare showed more erratic patterns of privilege loss and gain. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of factors related to noncompliance with aftercare may lead to better intervention with dual diagnosis patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The effects of adrenocorticotropin hormone and angiotensin II on adrenal corticosteroid secretions in the freshwater turtle Pseudemys scripta.

This study examined the effects of angiotensin II (ANG II) and mammalian adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) on adrenal corticosteroid secretions in the freshwater turtle, Pseudemys scripta. Synthetic turtle ANG II ([Asp1, Val5] ANG II) was infused at rates of 1, 10, and 100 ng/kg/min in conscious turtles while monitoring blood pressure (BP). One 60-min saline (0.6%) infusion preceded the ANG II infusions; two followed. Blood samples were collected at 30- and 60-min intervals and the plasma was frozen at -20 degrees until assay. Mammalian ACTH was infused at doses of 0.1 and 1.0 IU/min; the procedures were followed as delineated above. The plasma was assayed for corticosterone, cortisol, and aldosterone utilizing radioimmunoassay techniques. Infusions of exogenous, native ANG II at subpressor and pressor rates elicited dose-dependent increases in BP, which rose from a control mean of 22.6 +/- 5.8 mm Hg to a maximum mean value of 38.2 +/- 11.0 mm Hg (P less than 0.05 compared to control), and plasma corticosterone concentrations, which rose from a control mean of 6.6 +/- 2.8 ng/ml to a maximum mean value of 27.2 +/- 2.6 ng/ml (P less than 0.05 compared to control). Furthermore, both BP and corticosterone levels returned toward control levels during the final saline recovery period, suggesting that neither physical stress suffered by the animal nor blood volume changes due to infusions and blood sampling affected these parameters. ACTH failed to alter either BP or corticosterone. Neither ANG II nor ACTH had any effect on plasma cortisol or aldosterone concentrations--which fell below the minimal detection levels for these assays.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenal Cortex↗
PubMed1977

Tumor immunity.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗
PubMed1972

Regeneration of the surface glycoproteins of a transplantable mouse tumor cell after treatment with neuraminidase.

Strain A mouse ascites tumor cells that were treated with neuraminidase (EC 3.2.1.18) (these cells show decreased tumor-forming ability in allogeneic C3H mice) rapidly regenerate sialoglycoproteins at the cell surface during culture. The incorporation of labeled D-glucosamine into membrane glycoproteins of cells that were treated or untreated with neuraminidase proceeds at similar rates. Surface glycoproteins that contain sialic acid are synthesized de novo during culture of neuraminidase-treated cells, and in nondividing cells, synthesis is accompanied by turnover of the membrane glycoproteins. The rate of turnover of membrane glycoproteins that lack sialic acid residues is the same as that occurring in non-dividing cells that are not treated with neuraminidase and that are cultured under identical conditions. Turnover of the surface membrane of nondividing cells leads to the accumulation of glycoproteins in the supernatant medium of cell cultures. The rapid regeneration of cell surfaces that contain sialic acid by TA3 cells that were treated with neuraminidase, makes it unlikely that the rejection of these cells in vivo, in C3H mice, is due solely to the induction of a primary immune response to new or to previously concealed antigenic specificities that would be expressed on the surface of the sialic acid-depleted cell.

Animals↗