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Biomedical subjects

J Gray

Publications and source records attributed to J Gray.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Breast or bottle.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Attitude↗
PubMed1979

Adverse reactions to frusemide in hospital inpatients.

Out of 2580 medical inpatients included in a drug-surveillance programme, 585 (22.7%) were treated with frusemide. Of these, 123 (21.0%) had a total of 177 adverse reactions. The most common were hypovolaemia (85 cases), hyperuricaemia (54), and hypokalaemia (21). Most reactions were mild, and only three patients had potentially life-threatening effects. The incidence of adverse reactions increased significantly with daily dose, occurring in 47 patients (13.5%) given up to 40 mg, 42 (26.3%) given up to 80 mg, and 34 (43.6%) given over 80 mg (P less than 0.001). There was no clear association between side effects and a raised blood urea concentration on admission, confirming that treatment with frusemide is not more hazardous in patients with renal failure. Frusemide is a safe and highly effective diuretic. Nevertheless, in view of the potential seriousness of volume depletion, dosage should probably begin at 20 rather than 40 mg daily.

Aged↗
PubMed1979

Beta-adrenergic potentiation of the increased in vitro accumulation of cycloleucine by rat thymocytes induced by triiodothyronine.

We have previously demonstrated that 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T(3)), whether administered in vivo or added to suspending media in vitro, promptly stimulates the in vitro accumulation of the nonmetabolized amino acids, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid, and cycloleucine (CLE) by thymocytes isolated from weanling rats. In these studies, we have examined the in vitro interaction between catecholamines and T(3) with respect to this effect. The previously reported enhancement of CLE accumulation in thymocytes by T(3) in vitro (1 muM) was confirmed. When added alone in concentrations ranging between 10 nM and 0.1 mM, the adrenergic agonists, epinephrine and norepinephrine, had no effect on CLE accumulation. At a concentration of 1 muM, isoproterenol, terbutaline, and phenylephrine were also without effect. However, the effect of T(3) was clearly potentiated by the concomitant addition of epinephrine, norepinephrine, and possibly isoproterenol, whereas terbutaline and phenylephrine were without effect. Neither basal nor T(3)-enhanced CLE accumulation was affected by the addition alone of the adrenergic blocking agents, propranolol (0.1 mM), phentolamine (10 muM), or practolol (0.1 mM). Nevertheless, the beta(1)- and beta(2)-antagonist, propranol, and the beta(1)-antagonist, practolol, blocked the increment in CLE accumulation produced by epinephrine; the alpha-antagonist, phentolamine, was without effect. The enhancement of CLE accumulation that occurred in the presence of T(3), with or without epinephrine, was seen to be a result of an inhibition of CLE efflux, because T(3) alone inhibited CLE efflux, and this effect was increased when epinephrine was also present. On the other hand, neither T(3) alone nor T(3) plus epinephrine appreciably altered the rate of inward transport of CLE. As judged from studies of the ability of thymocytes to exclude trypan blue, neither T(3) alone nor T(3) plus epinephrine either enhanced or impaired viability of cells during 3-h periods of incubation. Cell water content, measured with [(3)H]urea, was unaffected by T(3), either alone or in the presence of epinephrine. In confirmation of previous results, the stimulatory effect of T(3) on CLE accumulation was unaffected by concentrations of puromycin sufficient to inhibit protein synthesis by at least 95%, and the potentiating action of epinephrine on the response to T(3) was similarly unaffected. From these findings, it is concluded that the effect of T(3) to increase CLE accumulation by thymocytes in vitro, though itself independent of adrenergic mediation, is potentiated by beta(1)-adrenergic stimulation. This interaction appears distinctly different from other thyroid hormone-catecholamine interactions, in which thyroid hormones enhance physiological responses to catecholamines. Its mechanism remains unclear, but the properties of the T(3) effect, and possibly the interaction itself, suggest that T(3) enhances CLE accumulation by an action at the level of the cell membrane.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1979

Flow cytometry of mammalian sperm: progress in DNA and morphology measurement.

Variability in DNA content and head shape of mammalian sperm are potentially useful markers for flow cytometric monitoring of genetic damage in spermatogenic cells. The high refractive index and extreme flatness of the sperm heads produce an optical effect which interferes with DNA measurements in flow cytometers which have dye excitation and fluorescence light collection normal to the axis of flow. Orientation of sperm in flow controls this effect and results in coefficients of variation of 2.5% and 4.2%, respectively, for DNA measurements of mouse and human sperm. Alternatively, the optical effect can be used to generate shape-related information. Measurements on randomly oriented sperm from three mammalian species using a pair of fluorescence detectors indicate that large shape differences are detectable. Acriflavine-Feulgen stained sperm nuclei are significantly bleached during flow cytometric measurements at power levels routinely used in many flow cytometers. Dual beam studies of this phenomenon indicate it may be useful in detecting abnormally shaped sperm.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Paralytic shellfish poisoning.

Two cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning after ingestion of mussels occurred in October 1977 in Nova Scotia. The incidence of this type of poisoning is relatively high among persons living on the coast of the Bay of Fundy and the estuary of the St. Lawrence River. The causative organism, Gonyaulax tamarensis, elaborates an endotoxin, saxitoxin, that blocks neuromuscular transmission in the motor axon and muscle membrane while leaving the end-plate unaffected; it also suppresses conduction in the atrioventricular node and inhibits the respiratory centre. The clinical manifestations are unique and include numbness of the lips, tongue and fingertips within minutes of ingestion of the poisoned shellfish, then numbness of the legs, arms and neck, with general muscular incoordination, and finally respiratory distress and muscular paralysis. Treatment is symptomatic and prevention can only occur by public education.

Bivalvia↗
PubMed1978

Carbon monoxide poisoning and nonoliguric acute renal failure.

Carbon monoxide poisoning in a 37-year-old man was complicated by neurologic damage, skin changes, muscle necrosis and nonoliguric renal failure. The relation between nontraumatic rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure in carbon monoxide poisoning is reviewed. Recognition of the acute renal failure in such cases is important, for this complication can be fatal; the prognosis is excellent, however, if proper medical management is provided.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed1978

Myotonia dystrophica: unusual features in a Labrador family.

A large family with myotonia dystrophica has been recognized in an isolated area of Labrador. The complete family tree showed 29 of 108 members to be affected, including an infant with the congenital form of the disease. The propositus presented with epiphora and reduced frequency of blinking, with incomplete closure--features that have not previously been stressed. Ten of the younger affected persons had no lens opacities, although most had systemic muscle signs. Slit-lamp examination was therefore not a valuable method of early detection of the disease in the family. Many of the women affected by myotonia dystrophica had obstetric complications, particularly hydramnios, premature onset of labour, necessity for cesarean section, postpartum hemorrhage and neonatal death. Hydramnios was associated in each instances with perinatal death. The fetus in each case of hydramnios may have had the gene for myotonia dystrophica. Immunoglobulin A concentrations were reduced significantly in 27 affected persons in comparison with 77 unaffected family members. There were no such differences for the other immunoglobulin classes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Expectations and experience of HMO enrollees after one year: an analysis of satisfaction, utilization, and costs.

The impact of HMO enrollment on utilization and satisfaction in a sample of industrial employees was investigated using a panel study design. Preenrollment and postenrollment ambulatory utilization rates, out-of-pocket costs, and measures of satisfaction are presented for enrollees in two closed- and one open-panel HMO-type plans. Their health care experiences are compared to those of reenrollees remaining in the HMOs during both surveys, as well as to those retaining their Blue Cross-Blue Shield membership. Lack of access to and dissatisfaction with previous sources of care distinguished the preenrollment experience of those who selected the closed-panel plans; their postenrollment experience produced increasing satisfaction reflecting that their expectations in these areas were met. Continuing enrollees in closed-panel plans were somewhat less satisfied after a year of experience than they were earlier. Those who joined the open-panel plan did so because of the expanded benefits and financial advantages which, their postenrollment experience showed, were accurately perceived. Utilization patterns also changed: continuing enrollees in both types of plans made fewer illness but more preventive visits; new enrollees used greater numbers of both types of services after enrolling than before.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1978

Diflunisal compared with naproxen in the treatment of osteoarthrosis of hip or knee: a double-blind trial.

A randomized double-blind trial was carried out in 20 patients with osteoarthrosis of the hip or knee to compare the efficacy and tolerance of treatment with diflunisal or naproxen. During the first 4 weeks, patients received either 250 mg diflunisal or 250 mg naproxen twice daily and this was increased by 250 mg daily in 5 patients on diflunisal and in 3 on naproxen for the second 4 weeks of the trial. The results of subjective assessments made before and at the end of Week 8 showed a trend in favour of diflunisal for improvement of symptoms, except for weight-bearing pain which was improved in only 1 patient in each group. More of the patients receiving diflunisal than naproxen considered treatment to have been satisfactory, and rated their response as equally as good as or better than previous medication. Diflunisal produced significantly high incidence of gastro-intestinal upsets, leading to the withdrawal of 2 patients at Week 4.

Adult↗