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Biomedical subjects

C M Shapiro

Publications and source records attributed to C M Shapiro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Sleep deprivation and the postnatal blues.

This prospective study of 63 women was designed to investigate the relationship between sleep disruption prior to the birth, during labour and in the early postpartum period and the subsequent development of the postnatal blues. The results from this preliminary study suggest that two factors: (a) a night-time labour; and (b) a history of sleep disruption in the latter stages of pregnancy, may have aetiological importance in the development of postnatal blues. There was little evidence from this study to suggest that sleep disruption on the nights following the birth, the third sleep factor investigated, had any impact on the expression of the blues.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

A longitudinal study of sleep stages in young women during pregnancy and postpartum.

We conducted a longitudinal polysomnographic study in five healthy primiparous subjects, whose sleep was first recorded between 8 and 16 weeks of gestation, then every 2 months until parturition and at 1 month postpartum. The first 6 hours of sleep were used for statistical analysis. In contrast to previous studies, we found no reduction in stage 4 sleep with pregnancy. Slow-wave sleep (comprising stages 3 and 4), was significantly higher at 27-39 weeks of gestation than at 8-16 weeks, as predicted by the restorative theory of sleep. There was no significant difference in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep time. When compared to a group of normal ovulating women, however, REM sleep time decreased during the last two months of pregnancy and, although there was no change in sleep onset latency, the time spent awake during the first six hours of sleep was increased. Future research into the effects of cortisol and progesterone is indicated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

Effect of therapeutic theophylline levels on the sleep quality and daytime cognitive performance of normal subjects.

The effect of theophylline on sleep quality and cognitive performance in patients with obstructive lung disease has been the subject of controversy. To examine the direct effects of theophylline on sleep quality and cognitive performance, without confounding effects from bronchodilatation, we have undertaken a study of the drug in healthy subjects. A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover protocol was used to study the effect of oral sustained-release theophylline (Theodur) on subjective sleep quality, objective sleep quality, and cognitive performance. Overnight sleep studies were carried out on Nights 13 and 14 of each 2-wk study limb, and cognitive performance tests administered on Days 1 and 13 of each limb. A total of 18 subjects satisfactorily completed the study (8 males, median age 37, range 24 to 67 yr). Theophylline levels were median 10.2, range 2.3 to 13.3 micrograms/ml on Day 1 and 14.7, range 9.6 to 17.5 micrograms/ml on Day 13. No significant difference was observed between theophylline and placebo on subjective or objective sleep quality or on acute or medium-term cognitive performance. We conclude that theophylline does not affect sleep quality or cognitive performance in normal adults.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Seasonality in psychiatry--a review.

This paper reviews the literature pertaining to seasonal patterns in psychiatric illnesses. Evidence on the season of birth phenomenon suggests that a greater risk of pre-, peri-, or post-natal damage is associated with the winter months. There is currently insufficient evidence to pinpoint the exact mechanism involved or to ascertain whether the mechanism is common to each condition. Studies of seasonal patterns of incidence of psychiatric disorders have highlighted the role of seasonally regulated environmental factors on internal biological processes. There is growing evidence that serotonin is involved in a variety of psychiatric disorders. Seasonal patterns have been observed in processes involving serotonergic functioning. Furthermore, it has been postulated that these processes may be influenced by photoperiod, suggesting that the seasonal patterns of incidence of several psychiatric conditions may share a common neurophysiological substrate.

Female↗
PubMed1992

Psychiatric morbidity among overseas students.

As immigration for higher education is becoming more common now a days, the adjustment of overseas students to the host country is receiving more attention. This paper describes the results of a study which examined the prevalence and pattern of psychological disturbances among overseas and British students studying at Edinburgh University. The practical implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1991

Central projections of the sciatic, saphenous, median, and ulnar nerves of the rat demonstrated by transganglionic transport of choleragenoid-HRP (B-HRP) and wheat germ agglutinin-HRP (WGA-HRP).

The central projections of the rat sciatic, saphenous, median, and ulnar nerves were labeled by injecting each nerve with 0.05 mg B-HRP, or 0.5 mg WGA-HRP, or a mixture of both. The B-HRP labeled large dorsal root ganglion cells (30-50 microns) and, correspondingly, 98% of axons labeled in a rootlet were meyelinated; although all sizes of myelinated axons were labeled, a greater proportion fell in the large ranges (2-6.5 microns axon diameter) than in the small ranges (0.5-2 microns). Primary afferents labeled with B-HRP were distributed in laminae I, III, IV, and V of the dorsal horn and extended into the intermediate grey and the ventral horn; Clarke's column and the respective dorsal column nuclei were also densely labeled. Motoneurons of the nerve were densely labeled by B-HRP, including extensive regions of their dendritic trees. In contrast, WGA-HRP labeled small dorsal root ganglion cells (15-25 microns) and in the dorsal rootlets, 84% of the labeled axons were nonmyelinated; the small population of labeled myelinated afferents mainly fell within the smaller ranges (0.5-2.0 microns). Terminal fields of WGA-HRP labeled afferents were restricted to the superficial dorsal horn (laminae I-III), and to limited regions in the dorsal column nuclei. Sciatic nerve projections traced by labeling with B-HRP alone or in combination with WGA-HRP were more extensive than previously described when using either native HRP or WGA-HRP. Afferents to the dorsal horn extended from L1-S1, to Clarke's nucleus from T8-L1, to the ventral horn from L2-L5, and extended throughout the medial and dorsal region of the gracilie nucleus. Motoneurons were found from L4-L6. Using the same tracers, saphenous projections extended in the superficial dorsal horn from caudal L1 to rostral L4, in the deep dorsal horn to mid L4 and along the length of the central part of the gracilie nucleus. The median nerve projected to the internal basilar nucleus from C1-C6, the dorsal horn from C3-T2, Clarke's nucleus from T1-T6, the external cuneate nucleus, and a large central area throughout the length of the cuneate nucleus. Motoneurons were located in dorsolateral and ventrolateral nuclear groups from C4 through C8. The ulnar nerve projections were less extensive but also included the internal basilar nucleus from C1-C6, the medial region of the dorsal horn from C4-T1, Clarke's nucleus from T1-T6, the external cuneate nucleus, and the medial part of the cuneate nucleus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Afferent Pathways↗
PubMed1991

Ultrastructural localization of substance P, met-enkephalin, and somatostatin immunoreactivity in lamina X of the primate spinal cord.

The ultrastructural localization of substance P (SP), met-enkephalin (MENK), and somatostatin (SS) in the lamina X area surrounding the central canal of the macaque monkey was examined by the indirect peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. The most common synaptic terminals in lamina X were simple terminals (S) with small rounded or pleomorphic clear vesicles; one to two dense-core vesicles were occasionally also present. These were found on soma, dendrites, and dendritic spines, in all regions of lamina X. A second class of terminal with round or oval clear vesicles was glomerular (G) in shape, with scalloped edges, and contained many mitochondria. These large terminals had several synaptic contacts onto dendrites, spines, and small terminals and were found mainly in the lateral region. The third class (L) contained small clear vesicles and several vesicles with large, dense cores (100-125 nm), and also contacted dendrites, mainly lateral to the canal. The fourth class of terminal (D) contained small clear vesicles and several vesicles with small, dense cores (75-100 nm); these contacted dendrites and somata in all areas. Very few terminals with flat vesicles were identified. There was an unequal distribution of immunoreactivity among the several terminal classes identified in lamina X. Most SP terminals were S terminals, but SP L terminals were also common; few were D terminals. MENK terminals were usually either S terminals or D terminals; L terminals were rarely MENK positive. SS terminals were commonly D terminals or S terminals; L terminals were also rarely SS positive. Only SP terminals were identified as G terminals. Synaptic targets of SP, MENK, and SS terminals were most commonly dendrites. In addition to unlabelled neurons, peptidergic neurons and their processes were also synaptic targets of terminals containing the same peptide. The distributions of these peptides in primate lamina X differ from that of the same peptides in primate superficial dorsal horn. These differences are important, in consideration of some of the parallels that may be drawn between the lamina X area and the superficial dorsal horn; both areas have high concentrations of the same peptides, receive nociceptive primary afferents, and contain spinothalamic and other projection neurons. Nevertheless, comparison of the distribution of immunoreactivity among terminal classes indicates that neurochemical organization at the ultrastructural level is quite distinct in each of the two areas. This may also reflect other roles of the lamina X area, including its involvement in visceral functions, although it would be expected that this element might be less prominent at the cervical levels we investigated.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Twenty four hour heart rate variability: effects of posture, sleep, and time of day in healthy controls and comparison with bedside tests of autonomic function in diabetic patients.

Heart rate variability was measured in 77 healthy controls and 343 diabetic patients by a count of the number of beat-to-beat differences greater than 50 ms in the RR interval during a 24 hour ambulatory electrocardiogram. In the healthy controls the lower 95% tolerance limits for total 24 hour RR interval counts were approximately 2000 at age 25, 1000 at 45, and 500 at 65 years. Six controls confined to bed after injury had normal 24 hour patterns of RR counts, while eight other controls showed loss of diurnal variation in both heart rate and RR counts during a period of sleep deprivation. RR counts in ten controls on and off night duty increased during sleep whenever it occurred. Nearly half (146) the 343 diabetic patients had abnormal 24 hour RR counts. The percentage of abnormal RR counts increased with increasing autonomic abnormality assessed by a standard battery of tests of cardiovascular autonomic function. A quarter of those with normal cardiovascular reflex tests had abnormal 24 hour RR counts. There were close correlations between 24 hour RR count results and the individual heart rate tests (r = 0.6). The assessment of cardiac parasympathetic activity by 24 hour RR counts was reliable. The diurnal variations in RR counts seen in the controls were probably related to sleep rather than either posture or time of day. The method was more sensitive than conventional tests of cardiovascular reflexes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Morbidity in nocturnal asthma: sleep quality and daytime cognitive performance.

Most patients with asthma waken with nocturnal asthma from time to time. To assess morbidity in patients with nocturnal asthma nocturnal sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and daytime cognitive performance were measured prospectively in 12 patients with nocturnal asthma (median age 43 years) and 12 age and intellect matched normal subjects. The median (range) percentage overnight fall in peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) was 22 (15 to 50) in the patients with nocturnal asthma and 4 (-4 to 7) in the normal subjects. The patients with asthma had poorer average scores for subjective sleep quality than the normal subjects (median paired difference 1.1 (95% confidence limits 0.1, 2.3)). Objective overnight sleep quality was also worse in the asthmatic patients, who spent more time awake at night (median difference 51 (95% CL 8.1, 74) minutes), had a longer sleep onset latency (12 (10, 30) minutes), and tended to have less stage 4 (deep) sleep (-33 (-58, 4) minutes). Daytime cognitive performance was worse in the patients with nocturnal asthma, who took a longer time to complete the trail making tests (median difference 62 (22, 75) seconds) and achieved a lower score on the paced serial addition tests (-10 (-24, -3)). Mean daytime sleep latency did not differ significantly between the two groups (2 (-3, 7) minutes). It is concluded that hospital outpatients with stable nocturnal asthma have impaired sleep quality and daytime cognitive performance even when having their usual maintenance asthma treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Daylight saving time in psychiatric illness.

It has been reported that the change in photoperiod induced by the occurrence of daylight saving time has an effect on psychiatric presentation. We therefore investigated the impact of daylight saving time in three conditions: (1) parasuicide presentations; (2) psychiatric outpatient contacts, and inpatient admissions; (3) registered suicides. Results indicate that neither the change in photoperiod nor the effect of a small change in circadian rhythm associated with daylight saving time has an effect on 'cases' in any of the three conditions.

Circadian Rhythm↗
PubMed1990

Evaluation of bioelectrical impedance analysis for body composition measurements in anorexia nervosa.

Many established methods of measuring body composition are time consuming and require complex equipment which is not generally available. Bioelectrical impedance analysis is a technique which utilises the difference in conductivity between fat and lean tissues at radiofrequencies. It uses inexpensive equipment which is simple to use and does not involve the use of ionising radiation. We have evaluated this technique in 44 studies on 38 anorexic females with a wide range of body mass index. Fat free mass was obtained from the mean of three established methods. The initial calibration was derived from 21 studies on 19 anorexics. Fat free mass was regressed against impedance and body habitus parameters to establish the prediction equation with the smallest standard error (1.12 kg). Values of fat free mass derived using this prediction equation were then compared with the other methods in a prospective study. The error of the bioelectrical impedance technique compares favourably with the established methods, even in anorexic patients with very low body mass index.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Testicular neoplasms in Hispanic brothers.

Two hispanic brothers developed nonconcordant testicular malignancies in an interval of 11 months. They represent the 36th report of familial testicular neoplasia. The problems deriving from poor patient compliance are documented.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Scaling sex attitudes and behavior in South Africa.

Sex attitudes and behavior were scaled according to Guttman scale criteria among 300 members of the public, students, and nurses in Johannesburg, South Africa, replicating the central features of earlier studies conducted in the United States. The study presents an initial attempt to establish norms of sex attitudes and behavior in South Africa. The scales are shown to provide reliable tools for sex research and clinical practice.

Attitude↗
PubMed1979

Eosinophilic granuloma of the second cervical vertebra.

The occurrence of eosinophilic granuloma in the body of the second cervical vertebra of a young adult male is presented. The necessity of making a histologic diagnosis and prevention of vertebral instability led to operative intervention. Treatment consisted of posterior fixation of the spinous processes of the second and third cervical vertebrae with size 0 wire. Through a transoral approach the lesion was curetted, and bone chips were placed in the vertebral defect. The patient remains well, and disease-free, after 36 months.

Adult↗