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Biomedical subjects

G Mor

Publications and source records attributed to G Mor.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Evaluation of the annual activity of a continuing medical and home care unit.

This report presents the annual activity of a home care unit which operates as an extension of a regional hospital into the community. This 'intermediate-care' (between hospitalization and ambulatory care) was developed because of the demographic and health characteristics of the urban population served and in response to their specific health care needs (immediate availability and accessibility of care). During this period, 471 patients were under care, 85% of whom were 65 years old and over. Forty percent were referred with a diagnosis of a malignant disease, about 20% with a diagnosis of a cerebral event and 15% with cardiac and vascular problems. The average period of stay in the program was three months, with less than 10% remaining under supervision for more than a year. In about 50% of the patients involved the care goals were attained and in an additional 25% (terminal cases) the patients were cared for at home until death. The service was found to be an important factor in the interim phase between acute hospitalization and the continuation of care provided by the family physician. The multidisciplinary team care approach was found to be effective in providing services to that group of patients characterized by old age, multiple medical problems and being homebound. The concerned service is continuously developing in compliance with the changing and growing needs of particular groups of patients such as advanced malignant disease, complex cardiovascular problems and multiple (simultaneous) diseases.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Multiunit electrical activity in conscious rats during an immune response.

Mechanisms by which the central nervous system may be influenced during the course of an immune response probably exist but remain obscure. In an attempt to determine any neurophysiological changes during such responses, we have employed a conscious animal model bearing chronically implanted recording electrodes in the preoptic area/anterior hypothalamus (PO/AH) and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Rats were sensitized to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) injected intraperitoneally. Basal PO/AH multiunit activity (MUA) increased significantly to a maximum 5 days after SRBC injection and correlated with the initial appearance of anti-SRBC serum antibodies. Significant decreases in PO/AH MUA were recorded on Days 3 and 8 following the sensitization. PVN MUA decreased significantly for the first 3 days following immunization and then returned to a basal rate before increasing on Day 6. On the ninth and tenth days following the SRBC injection, both PO/AH and PVN MUA levels had returned to those recorded before immunization. A further group of animals was examined for PO/AH MUA changes during induction of a secondary response to SRBC. Firing rates increased significantly between Days 4 and 9 following the injection, the maximum increase being on Day 6. The profile of this response was different from that recorded during the first response, with no decreases recorded. The results are discussed in terms of neuroimmunomodulatory mechanisms such as those influencing neuroendocrine secretory function.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

A neurophysiological correlate of an immune response.

In order to examine possible neurophysiological changes during an immune response, we have recorded neural activity in a conscious animal bearing chronic recording electrodes in the preoptic area/anterior hypothalamus (PO/AH) and hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN). Male rats were sensitized with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) injected intraperitoneally. Basal PO/AH multiunit activity (MUA) was recorded as 14.7 +/- 2.1 Hz prior to sensitization and was seen to increase significantly to a maximum of 33.1 +/- 6.0 Hz (p less than 0.005) five days after SRBC injection. This increase correlated with the initial appearance of anti-SRBC serum antibodies at a mean antibody titer of 1:32. Also recorded were decreases in PO/AH MUA on days 3 and 8 after the sensitization (8.2 +/- 2.4 Hz, p less than 0.005); 7.1 +/- 3.3 Hz, p less than 0.005, respectively). Basal PVN MUA was recorded as 14.7 +/- 2.4 Hz. It decreased significantly for the first three days after immunization, and then returned to a basal rate before increasing to 25.9 +/- 8.4 Hz (p less than 0.005) on day 6. On the ninth and tenth days after SRBC injection PO/AH and PVN MUA levels returned to those recorded before immunization.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Inhibition by corticosterone of paraventricular nucleus multiple-unit activity responses to sensory stimuli in freely moving rats.

In order to determine possible electrophysiologic correlates of negative feedback influences of glucocorticoids upon neuroendocrine secretory activity, the effects of various doses of corticosterone on paraventricular nucleus multiple-unit activity responses to neural stimuli were examined in conscious, freely moving male rats. In control animals, photic and acoustic stimulation significantly increased multiple-unit activity of the paraventricular nucleus by increments of 75% and 117% (P less than 0.005), respectively. Doses between 0.1 and 5.0 mg of corticosterone produced a dose-dependent inhibition of responses to photic stimulation with a high correlation coefficient (r = -0.990). Corticosterone also caused an inhibition of paraventricular multiple-unit activity in response to acoustic stimulation, which was more effective than for photic stimulation, with complete blockade of response occurring with a dose of 1 mg corticosterone. These electrophysiologic findings, within a region of the hypothalamus known to contain corticotrophin-releasing factor cell bodies, may be related to reduced secretion of the hormone in response to the neurogenic stimuli employed, following glucocorticoid administration.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1986

Exposure to Legionella in geriatric institutions.

A study of seroreactivity to six Legionella species (L. pneumophila, L. longbeachae, L. micdadei, L. gormanii, L. dumoffii and L. bozemanii) performed in two geriatric hospitals, a day club for the aged and a group of aged with independent life styles revealed a high prevalence of seropositivity in the hospitals. A titer of 1:256 to at least one antigen was obtained in 30.5% of the patients and 35.7% of the staff members from one hospital, 12.1% of the patients and 17.2% of the staff members from a second hospital, 9.1% of the day club attendants, and in none of the 26 old people living in their own households. A second study of the possible source of Legionella spp. in three geriatric hospitals was performed. Three strains of L. pneumophila [serogroup (SG) 1, 3 and 6] were isolated from water, one water sample was positive for L. pneumophila SG 1-4 (pool), by direct immunofluorescence staining only. In a survey of seroconversion to Legionella antigens, 105 new patients were investigated on their arrival day and over a 2-year period; 24% of the patients who could be followed up significantly seroconverted to at least one of the Legionella antigens. Although the findings proved that Legionella existed on the premises of two hospitals, and the high prevalence of seropositivity to Legionella spp. indicated intramural exposure to the agents of legionellosis at one hospital, we found no evidence linking these agents to patient illness.

Aged↗
PubMed1984

Risk in the vaginal delivery of the large fetus.

The problem of the excessively weighted fetus was studied. For this purpose, over a period of 2 years, each delivery with fetal weight of 4,500 g or more was included in the study. The history and examination findings of the present pregnancy were reviewed following delivery. The postpartum outcome and later complications in both mothers and infants were investigated prospectively. A total of 82 deliveries of large babies were included in the study and the outcome was compared with that of parallel deliveries of babies within the normal weight range (2,500-4,000 g). Factors frequently associated with excessive fetal weight were identified. A relatively high perinatal mortality and morbidity relating to vaginal delivery were observed among the large infants. In all those cases who developed delay in the second stage of labour, Caesarean section is proposed when macrosomia is clinically suspected and confirmed by ultrasonic assessment. Moreover elective Caesarean section should be considered before labour, when macrosomia is associated with hyperglycaemia or other pathology.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Regulation of fas ligand expression in breast cancer cells by estrogen: functional differences between estradiol and tamoxifen.

During neoplastic growth and metastasis, the immune system responds to the tumor by developing both cellular and humoral immune responses. In spite of this active response, tumor cells escape immune surveillance. We previously showed that FasL expression by breast tumor plays a central role in the induction of apoptosis of infiltrating Fas-immune cells providing the mechanism for tumor immune privilege. In the present study, we showed that FasL in breast tissue is functionally active, and estrogen and tamoxifen regulate its expression. We identified an estrogen recognizing element like-motif in the promoter region of the FasL gene, suggesting direct estrogen effects on FasL expression. This was confirmed by an increase in FasL expression in both RNA and protein levels in hormone sensitive breast cancer cells treated with estradiol. This effect is receptor mediated since tamoxifen blocked the estrogenic effect. Interestingly, tamoxifen also inhibited FasL expression in estrogen-depleted conditions. Moreover, an increase in FasL in breast cancer cells induces apoptosis in Fas bearing T cells and, tamoxifen blocks the induction of apoptosis. These studies provide evidence that tamoxifen inhibits FasL expression, allowing the killing of cancer cells by activated lymphocytes. This partially explains the protective effect of tamoxifen against breast cancer.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Changes in blood pressure in the lying and sitting positions in normotensive, borderline and hypertensive subjects.

Blood pressure of hypertensive subjects reacts differently from that of borderline or normal subjects at rest in either sitting or lying positions. In the hypertensive group the diastolic pressure tends to rise more on consecutive measurements and the systolic blood pressure tends to fall less than in the two other groups. Similarly, on going from the lying to the sitting position, diastolic blood pressure of hypertensives rises less than that of normotensive or borderline hypertensive individuals. Thus, people with 'casual' hypertension differ in their reaction to rest and changes in body position in their reaction to rest and changes in body position with respect to normotensives or borderline hypertensives. This behavior could lead to labelling of subjects as 'normal' or 'hypertensive' depending on position and timing of the blood pressure measurement.

Blood Pressure↗