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Biomedical subjects

C J Gibson

Publications and source records attributed to C J Gibson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Behavioural and biochemical effects of tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylalanine in mice.

Behaviour was observed in mice given L-tryptophan, L-tyrosine or L-phenylalanine and then placed either in an open field or in water in a narrow cylinder. Animals placed in water (swim test) soon assume a characteristic immobile posture. Most antidepressants, including pharmacologically atypical ones, decrease immobility in the swim test while many decrease or do not affect activity in the open field test. Tryptophan increased immobility in the swim test, but did not affect open field activity and thus did not exhibit the normal profile of activity for an antidepressant. Tyrosine decreased immobility in the swim test and markedly increased activity in the open field test, an action similar to the psychostimulants amphetamine and caffeine. Phenylalanine decreased immobility in the swim test, but did not affect open field activity. Thus, its behavioural effects are similar to those of an antidepressant. As expected, tryptophan increased brain tryptophan and serotonin in a dose-related fashion. Tyrosine did not alter dopamine or noradrenaline levels, while phenylalanine lowered dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin. These biochemical data do not fully explain the behavioural results.

Amino Acids↗
PubMed1982

Mixing sexes on a rehabilitation unit.

Sixty-one former patients were interviewed regarding their reactions to sharing a hospital room with a patient of the opposite sex. Patients under 30 years of age had more favorable responses upon initial exposure than did intermediate age (30 to 49 years) or older (50 and above) patients, but a positive shift occurred in all groups. By the time of discharge, 90% of all patients reported an overall positive reaction to the experience. The use of mixed sex rooms, by fostering a noninstitutional atmosphere, may be a useful therapeutic tool.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Elevation of urinary catecholamines and their metabolites following tyrosine administration in humans.

A single oral dose of tyrosine (100 or 150 mg/kg) caused significant increases in urinary levels of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), dopamine (DA), 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), vanilmandelic acid (VMA), and homovanillic acid (HVA) during the first 2 hr after its ingestion; water administration failed to produce such changes. The temporal patterns of these increases paralleled those of previously described increases in plasma tyrosine. Since urinary catecholamines derive from peripheral sources, while the catecholamine metabolites in urine may reflect both CNS and peripheral catecholamine turnover, these findings indicate that tyrosine administration may accelerate catecholamine synthesis in and release from cells throughout the human body. Tyrosine may thus constitute a useful agent for treating central or peripheral disorders associated with insufficient release of catecholamines.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Incorporation of tetracycline into impeded and unimpeded mandibular incisors of the mouse.

Twenty-four hours after a tetracycline injection, the unimpeded, and more rapidly erupting, mouse mandibular incisor contained 20% to 44% more tetracycline than the contralateral, uncut incisor. It was concluded that the increased tetracycline incorporation reflected a higher rate of mineralization associated with faster tooth formation in the unimpeded tooth. By measuring the amount of tetracycline which became incorporated at different times after an incisor was shortened, it was possible to investigate an early stage of the response of the incisor to cutting. A significant increase in the capacity of the tooth to incorporate tetracycline was detectable 4 h after shortening the tooth, and this was maximal after another 4 h.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Urinary output and incidence of acute urinary tract infection in patients with indwelling bladder catheters.

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that high urinary output in patients with an indwelling bladder catheter tends to protect the patients from acute urinary tract infection. Thirty-five cases of acute spinal cord injury were analyzed for average daily urine volume and frequency of acute urinary infection (defined as oral temperature above 101 F and requiring treatment for the infection). The study period encompassed the time from entry into the Rehabilitation Unit until a definitive effort was made to remove the catheter, a mean of 59 days. Twenty-six patients developed acute urinary infections while nine did not. Mean 24-hour urine output in the two groups was 2530 cc and 2540 cc, respectively. The only difference which could be found was a significant decrease in urinary output in the symptomatic group during the seven days preceding onset of acute infection.

Catheters, Indwelling↗
PubMed1977

Diaphragm function and lung involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Lung involvement was assessed in 30 consecutive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), not selected by respiratory symptoms. Pulmonary function tests revealed a higher rate of abnormality than either clinical history or radiography. The single breath carbon monoxide diffusing capacity was below 80 per cent of the predicted value in 24 patients (80 per cent), and a reduced total lung capacity was present in 13 (43 per cent). There was a weak correlation between the severity of the functional defect and disease activity, assessed antinuclear factor and DNA binding. No correlation was found with serum complement of Clq precipitation. Since pulmonary fibrosis in SLE is uncommon it cannot account for the high frequency of abnormal findings, and the pathogenesis of the functional changes is probably multifactorial. In seven of the patients with the smallest lung volumes, measurements of static pressure volume curves and of maximum respiratory pressures indicated extrapulmonary volume restriction. In five of these patients, diaphragm function was specifically assessed and found to be grossly abnormal in four. The inability of the diaphragm to generate normal pressure may be due to either severe weakness or immobility following extensive pleural adhesions. The well recognized syndrome of "shrinking lungs" and high "sluggish" diaphragms with clear lung fields on radiography is probably due to dysfunction of the diaphragm rather than to primary intrapulmonary pathology.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1975

Medical education: a required clerkship in rehabilitation and chronic disease.

For seven years the University of Rochester Medical School has required a four-week clerkship in rehabilitation and chronic disease as part of the fourth year curriculum. Students have a choice of clerkships ranging from traditional physical medicine and rehabilitation to chronic disease experience in several other specialties. Data have been systematically collected for five years from the students in regard to the following: (1) rating of this clerkship relative to all other required clerkships for educational value; (2) opinion whether the clerkship should continue to be required; (3) value to other students with similar career goals; (4) attitudes towards rehabilitation and changes therein resulting from the clerkship experience; and (5) open-ended comments about the clerkship. Response rate to the questionnaire has been about 80%. The purpose of the questionnaire was to aid in improving the clerkship and to determine the settings where students would respond most positively to a chronic disease experience. Nearly half of the respondents felt the clerkship should continue to be required, and an overwhelming majority felt it would be valuable to students with career interests similar to theirs.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗