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Biomedical subjects

I Husmark

Publications and source records attributed to I Husmark.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

An examination of factors that could affect choice reaction time in histology technicians.

Histology technicians exposed to formaldehyde and solvents have symptoms and objective evidence of neurobehavioral impairment of memory, judgment, and equilibrium. Because reaction time has been prolonged in many groups of workers exposed to toxicants, choice reaction time was measured in 385 female formaldehyde and solvent-exposed histology technicians, and 79 unexposed female laboratory workers. Choice reaction time to a visual stimulus (CRT) is defined, for the purpose of this study, as the time required for discriminated cancellation of two different letters on a microcomputer screen by pressing the matching keys. Initial analysis showed that increases in age, years of cigarette smoking, and hours per day of formaldehyde exposure significantly lengthened CRT, but xylene-toluene exposure had no effect. Since duration of smoking and length of daily formaldehyde exposure were age related, multiple linear regression analysis of CRT was performed using them as independent variables. Increasing age was the only significant factor in lengthening CRT. However, in these female histology technicians, the second measurement one year later was 44 msec faster (p less than .04). The reason for improved performance is unclear, but it may be an effect of training encompassing familiarity, improved attention, or learning.

Environmental Exposure↗
PubMed1971

The contribution of mechanical factors to the early adaptation of the spindle response.

1. Adaptation in terms of the early fall of the receptor potential was studied in isolated frog spindles. The contribution of gross mechanical changes to the decline of the response was determined by comparing the responses obtained under constant length and under constant tension.2. It was found that the early adaptation under constant stretch increased with increasing lengthening of the spindle for stretches up to 25-30% of the resting length and decreased with still stronger stretches. When the spindle was stretched by 100% or more the static phase of the receptor potential reached nearly the same height as the dynamic peak and the early adaptation approached zero.3. The early adaptation decreased with decreasing velocity of linearly rising stretch and approached zero for stretches below about 0.5 mm/sec.4. For different strengths of a steplike stretch the amount of early adaptation was linearly related to the fall in tension over the same period. The relative amount of tension fall, however, was always less than the corresponding fall of the response.5. The early adaptation was 15-20% smaller under constant tension than under constant length for stretches below the level giving the maximum dynamic peak.6. The results suggest that a comparatively small amount of the early adaptation of the spindle response to constant stretch is related to gross alterations in length in different regions of the spindle. The main part of the adaptive fall of the response is probably related to functional properties of the sensory membrane and to the ionic mechanism underlying the production of the receptor potential.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1971

Ionic effects on spindle adaptation.

1. Effects of changes in ionic environment on the receptor potential were studied in isolated frog spindle. Particular attention was focused on the action of potassium removal on the early adaptive decline of the response.2. Removal of potassium caused a reduction and final disappearance of the dynamic overshoot of the receptor potential. The static phase of the response was also reduced although to less extent. The repolarization phase of the response following release of phasic or maintained stretch was greatly prolonged.3. Increased potassium concentration caused a reduction of the response, but did not change its general time course. The amount of reduction was related to the potassium concentration.4. Removal of sodium caused a marked diminution of the response, the static phase being in general more affected than the dynamic phase.5. It is suggested that the effects of potassium removal are caused by a delay in sodium inactivation and a partial depolarization of the endings. It is concluded that the greater part of the early adaptation of the spindle proper may be attributed to ionic mechanisms in the transducer membrane.

Animals↗