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Biomedical subjects

Holly Tomlin

Publications and source records attributed to Holly Tomlin.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Global-local visual processing in posttraumatic stress disorder.

The purpose of this study was to examine a behavioral index of hemispheric asymmetry (i.e., visual hierarchical attention) in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a disorder characterized by anxiety and other emotional symptoms. A reaction time based, computerized, global-local visual paradigm was administered to 26 PTSD-diagnosed and 22 psychopathology-free right-handed, male Vietnam War zone veterans. Results indicated that PTSD-diagnosed veterans displayed slower reaction times to all targets than the no-mental disorders comparison sample. However, findings also revealed a Group x Target location interaction in which the PTSD group was slower than the no-disorders comparison sample to respond to local, but not global, targets. Moreover, relative global bias was greater among PTSD-diagnosed veterans than their no-diagnosis counterparts. Findings provide partial support for the hypothesis that PTSD may be associated with a functional cerebral asymmetry favoring the right hemisphere.

Analysis of Variance↗

Differences in smooth pursuit eye movement between posttraumatic stress disorder with secondary psychotic symptoms and schizophrenia.

Studies show high comorbidity between post-traumatic stress disorder and psychotic symptoms. Despite this fact, there has been only one published study of the neurobiology of this enigmatic disorder. This preliminary study examines the relationship between psychotic symptoms in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and schizophrenia by measuring smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) in subjects with PTSD and secondary psychotic symptoms, schizophrenia, and healthy controls. The results show that PTSD with secondary psychotic symptoms is associated with a SPEM deficit that is different from the SPEM deficit associated with schizophrenia.

Adult↗

Olfactory functioning in Gulf War-era veterans: relationships to war-zone duty, self-reported hazards exposures, and psychological distress.

To explore possible neurotoxic sequelae of Gulf War (GW) participation, olfactory identification performance, neurocognitive functioning, health perceptions, and emotional distress were assessed in 72 veterans deployed to the GW and 33 military personnel activated during the GW but not deployed to the war zone. Findings revealed that war-zone-exposed veterans reported more concerns about health, cognitive functioning, and depression than did their counterparts who did not see war-zone duty. There was no evidence that performances on olfactory or neurocognitive measures were related to war-zone duty or to self-reported exposure to GW toxicants. However, symptoms of emotional distress were positively correlated with self-report of health and cognitive complaints. Results do not provide support for the hypothesis that objectively-measured sensory (i.e., olfactory) or cognitive deficits are related to war-zone participation but do underscore the increasingly demonstrated association between self-reported health concerns and symptoms of emotional distress.

Adult↗

Effects of the selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor analgesic celecoxib on renal carbonic anhydrase enzyme activity: a randomized, controlled trial.

Rofecoxib and celecoxib were the first cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)-specific inhibitors to be marketed as effective anti inflammatory agents. The results of several recent trials and a meta analysis of currently available studies all demonstrate a greater incidence of increased blood pressure, edema, and cardiovascular events in subjects treated with rofecoxib compared with celecoxib. As an approach to the assessment of molecular mechanisms that may contribute to these cardiorenal differences, this study investigated the inhibitory effects of celecoxib on renal carbonic anhydrase enzyme activity in human hypertensive subjects because in vitro enzyme studies demonstrate such an effect. Ten subjects with stable, treated hypertension were randomized to 1 of 3 treatment sequences, which included, in differing order, 200 mg celecoxib twice a day, 250 mg acetazolamide twice a day, or placebo twice a day. Whereas acetazolamide caused a bicarbonate diuresis and a hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis, celecoxib appeared to have no detectable effect on renal carbonic anhydrase or acid-base homeostasis. Thus, in this short-term study of human subjects, therapeutic doses of celecoxib did not appear to have a clinically significant inhibitory action on renal carbonic anhydrase.

Acetazolamide↗