Biomedical subjects

J A Himes

Publications and source records attributed to J A Himes.

18 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1990

An epidemiologic study of Tourette's syndrome in a single school district.

To evaluate the frequency of Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome (TS) in children, 3034 students in three schools in a single school district in greater Los Angeles were monitored frequently over a 2-year period by a school psychologist thoroughly familiar with the symptoms of the disorder. A portion of the cases were also evaluated in a TS clinic. A total of 14 males fulfilled the Tourette Syndrome Association research criteria for definite TS. When corrected for the number of students in special education classes in the monitored schools, the frequency of definite TS in males was 1 in 152. An additional 7 males who differed only in that they were not observed for a full year were termed definite TS less than 1 year. When the two groups were combined, the frequency of definite TS was 1 in 95 for males and 1 in 759 for females. These figures do not include an additional 10 males diagnosed as having definite transient tic disorder, 2 males diagnosed as having probable TS, and 10 males diagnosed as having possible TS. In addition to tics, most of these children had problems with attention span, obsessive compulsive behavior, and learning and/or conduct disorders. Seventy percent of the students with definite TS or definite TS less than 1 year were in special education classes. Twelve percent of the children in special education classes had definite TS or definite TS less than 1 year, and 28% were in one of the diagnostic categories of definite, probable, or possible. All of the 10 definite TS patients that were seen in the clinic had attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

PubMed1983

Effect of bilirubin infusion on excretion of bilirubin and biliverdin in rabbits.

Intravenous infusion of bilirubin (BR) at 171 micrograms/min/kg into rabbits resulted in biliary concentration of BR increasing from 3.8 (control) to 243 mg/dl and BR excretion increasing from 1.7 to 66 micrograms/min/kg. BR infusion resulted in biliary concentrations of biliverdin (BV) increasing from 9.1 to 30 g/dl and BV excretion increasing from 4.2 to 8.2 micrograms/min/kg. BR infusion produced a progressive decline in bile flow. BV was the predominant bile pigment in control rabbits fed either an alfalfa-based or chlorophyll-free diet. These results imply that rabbits can oxidize BR to BV.

Animals↗

PubMed1976

Hypercholeresis in turkeys following the ingestion of Crotalaria spectabilis seeds.

Young female turkeys received diets containing Crotalaria spectabilis seeds for 18 weeks. Mean values for total bile flow, biliary bile acid excretion, bile acid-dependent flow and bile acid-independent flow were significantly higher in crotalaria-fed turkeys than in controls. The hypercholeresis observed in crotalaria-fed birds involved both bile acid-dependent and bile acid-independent components of bile. Crotalaria-fed turkeys developed biliary hyperplasia. Liver weights were similar in the two groups. Since increases in 14C-erythritol clearances paralleled increases in total bile flow in crotalaria-fed turkeys (14C-erythritol bile to plasma ratios were similar in both groups), it was evident that the hypercholeresis in crotalaria-fed turkeys did not involve the ductal/ductular component of bile. Little or no ductal/ductular bile flow occurred in either group since total bile flow was equal to erythritol clearance and extrapolation to zero erythritol clearance yielded zero bile flow rates in both groups. Crotalaria-fed turkeys exhibited significantly higher biliary concentrations of chlorides (associated with lower sodium , potassium and bicarbonate concentrations) than did control birds. Validation of the use of 14C-erythritol clearance for the estimation of canalicular bile flow in turkeys was provided both by substantial decreases in bile to plasma 14C-erythritol concentration ratios following the injection of avian vaso-active intestinal peptide and the failure to demonstrate chromatographically the presence of radioactive metabolites of 14C-erythritol in plasma.

Animals↗

PubMed1975

Experimental liver diseases.

The use of animal models in the experimental production of liver diseases similar to those of man is still in its infancy. There is a need to discover new models more closely related to counterpart syndromes in man in the fields of hepatorenal syndrome, neonatal jaundice, Wilson's disease, cholelithiasis, viral hepatitis, biliary atresia, and cirrhosis, to mention only a few. With the continued indiscriminate inbreeding of companion animals as well as the planned inbreeding of laboratory animals, there is little doubt that many more will soon be available. The current availability of mutant rats and sheep with bilirubin transport defects has allowed for a better understanding of how organic anions are transported by the liver. Many other currently available experimental animal models herein briefly reviewed have been only superficially studied. It is the intent of this chapter to provide for post-doctoral students an appreciation for the many animal model systems available for experimental hepatic research.

Alkaloids↗

PubMed1975

Repeated oral administration of coumaphos in sheep: effects on erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase and other constituents.

The effects of treating adult wethers with 2 or 4 mg of coumaphos/kg of body weight each day for 6 days were investigated. The smaller dose produced a gradual decrease of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity (to maximum average reduction of approximately 45%), but without the appearance of signs of toxicosis. The larger dose appeared to be toxic. Treatment with the drug did not seem to alter significantly the anticholinesterase effects of a 2nd treatment made 6 weeks later. Coumaphos did not significantly affect serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase (glutamic oxalacetic transaminase) or isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICD) and concentrations of serum sodium and plasma calcium. A marked decrease in blood serum potassium and an increase in plasma magnesium occurred in all wethers that died after treatment with coumaphos, whereas appreciable changes did not occur in the survivors of the treatment given 6 weeks earlier. Treatment of sheep with an intravenous injection of the organophosphorous compound trichlorfon, insufficient to produce a significant effect on erythrocyte cholinesterase activity, produced additive effects with those of coumaphos.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

PubMed1975

Biliverdin and bilirubin excretion in the turkey.

Mean endogenous bile flow in 11 turkeys was 0.81 plus or minus 0.52 mul/g of the liver per minute (10.4 plus or minus 5.3 mul/Kg of body weight per minute). Endogenous biliverdin and bilirubin excretory rates were 0.59 plus or minus 0.31 and 0.058 plus or minus 0.018 mug/g of liver per minute (7.6 plus or minus 3.6 and 0.76 plus or minus 0.23 mug/Kg of body weight per minute), respectively. Mean concentrations of biliverdin and bilirubin in endogenous bile were 92 plus or minus 55 and 8.9 plus or minus 5.2 mg/100 ml, respectively. Livers constituted 1.36 plus or minus 0.22 percent of the body weight. Thin layer chromatographic studies revealed a heterogeneity of bilirubin conjugates in bile.

Animals↗

PubMed1975

Repeated oral administration of coumaphos in sheep: interactions of coumaphos with bishydroxycoumarin, trichlorfon, and phenobarbital sodium.

Interactions between treatments with coumaphos, bishydroxycoumarin (an anticoagulane), trichlorfon (an organophosphorous compound), and phenobarbital sodium (an inducer of microsomal enzymes) were investigated in sheep. A daily dose of 2 mg of coumaphos/kg of body weight for 6 days did not affect the plasma enzymes or the antiprothrombinemic effect of bishydroxy-coumarin in wethers. The treatment of ewes with an intravenous (IV) injection of trichlorfon, insufficient to produce significant inhibition of erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, appeared to produce additive effects with those produced by subsequent treatment with 4 mg of coumaphos/kg/day. In ewes given 40 mg of phenobarbital sodium/kg for 5 days intraperitoneally (IP), the anticholinesterase effect of 4 mg of coumaphos/kg was significantly reduced and signs of toxicity were not present. Treatment with daily doses of 2 mg of coumaphos/kg for 6 days did not modify the anticholinesterase effect of a 2nd series of treatments given 6 weeks later.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

PubMed1975

Heterogeneity of bilirubin conjugates in several animal species.

Bile was collected from various domestic and wild species (alligators, armadilirubin diazotized and subjected to thin-layer chromatography fro the separation of conjugates (as azo-dipyrroles). Diazotized canine conjugated bilirubin had Rf values in agreement with those previously reported by other; bilirubin conjugates were related to their known glycosidic composition. Variations were observed in the relative amounts of the various mono- and diconjugates among animals within species. However, it was apparent that characteristic patterns of bilirubin conjugation occur in certain animal species. Intravenous infusion of between 0.03 and 0.61 mg of bilirubin/Kg into cats resulted in little or no change in the relative percentages of the various conjugates of bilirubin to glucuronic acid in the cat continues to be the major excretory pathway under conditions of bilirubin load.

Animals↗

PubMed1974