Biomedical subjects

E A McClure

Publications and source records attributed to E A McClure.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Effects of D-amphetamine on temporal discrimination in pigeons.

Two experiments used a matching to sample of durations procedure to examine changes in temporal discrimination evoked by D-amphetamine (0.75, 1.50, 2.25 and 3.0 mg/kg i.m.) in pigeons. Responses to one key color were reinforced after long (8-s) stimuli: responses to the alternative key color were reinforced after short (2-s) stimuli. Stimuli of intermediate duration were reinforced in Experiment 1 and were not reinforced in Experiment 2. Sigmoid functions relating percent of choices of the key reinforced after long-duration stimuli to the duration of stimulus presented were fit by a cumulative normal function. In addition to a parameter giving the left/right position of the sigmoid curves (which indexes temporal perception), this function also provided estimates of the range and slope of the curve (measures of stimulus control). The results showed that, contrary to many published reports, amphetamine had no effect on the left/right positioning of the sigmoid curve. There was, however, an effect of amphetamine on stimulus control, as shown by the general flattening of the psychophysical functions. Little evidence of tolerance to the drug's behavioral effects was found after 30 consecutive days of behavioral testing under amphetamine.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1996

Objective detection of hemifield and quadrantic field defects by visual evoked cortical potentials.

AIMS/BACKGROUND: An objective method for detecting hemifield and quadrantic visual field defects has been developed using steady state visual evoked cortical potentials (VECPs), an adaptive noise canceller (ANC), and Hotelling's t2 statistic. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the technique. METHODS: Nine subjects (mean age 44 years) were investigated with field loss due to a variety of causes including both anterior and posterior visual pathway lesions. Dynamic perimetry was performed by means of a Goldmann or Tübingen perimeter. VECP recordings were made from each visual field quadrant (23 degrees X 23 degrees) by means of a steady state reversing checkerboard (7.7 rev/s). The central 5 degrees of the visual field and the vertical and horizontal meridians were masked during these measurements. Recordings were made from three electrode sites, positioned over the visual cortex, relative to a mid frontal electrode. Each recording lasted 2 minutes, during which time fixation was monitored. The data from each recording were divided into 4 second segments, and the amplitude and phase of the VECP signal measured using the ANC. Hotelling's t2 statistic was applied to determine the probability of signal detection. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to find the optimum signal detection threshold for identification of the visual field defects. RESULTS: The results of the study confirmed patterns of subjective visual field loss. The technique had a sensitivity and a specificity of 81% and 85%, respectively, for detecting 'non-seeing' areas in the inferior visual field, and 82% and 89%, respectively, for detecting 'non-seeing' areas in the superior visual field. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that the technique is of potential clinical value to ophthalmologists and neurologists when subjective perimetry is not possible.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Prostanoids inhibit Kupffer cell nitric oxide synthesis.

Kupffer cells are the largest population of fixed tissue macrophages in the body and produce a number of mediators that are involved in host defense. These mediators include cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1, prostaglandins, oxygen radicals, and nitric oxide. Prostaglandins are produced by adjacent endothelial cells in addition to Kupffer cells and regulate a number of cellular functions in a wide array of cells, but their role in nitric oxide synthesis is controversial. We studied the role of prostaglandins in regulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide synthesis in cultured rat Kupffer cells. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) inhibited Kupffer cell nitric oxide synthesis in a dose-dependent fashion in both 24- and 48-hr cultures. The effect of PGE2 persisted at low and high LPS concentrations. Prostaglandin analogues as well as other prostanoids also inhibited Kupffer cell nitric oxide synthesis. These data show that exogenous prostaglandins suppress Kupffer cell nitric oxide synthesis and may represent an important endogenous regulator of nitric oxide production.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Etretinate and visual function: a 1-year follow-up study.

Concern has been expressed in the literature that the drug etretinate may be potentially retinotoxic. Four patients are reported who have received long-term treatment with etretinate and who have undergone detailed evaluation for the development of visual dysfunction over a 1-year period. Despite prolonged treatment and high total doses no evidence of ocular toxicity attributable to the drug was found in any of the patients.

Ectodermal Dysplasia↗

PubMed1987

Clinical use of diagnostic tests.

Case histories are presented to illustrate a cross-section of work undertaken by optometrists in the Visual Assessment Department at the Tennent Institute of Ophthalmology. The clinical value of ocular diagnostic tests is emphasized, with particular reference to the differential diagnosis in cases of optic atrophy.

Adult↗