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Biomedical subjects

J Moorhead

Publications and source records attributed to J Moorhead.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Increased presence of serotonin-producing cells in colons with diverticular disease may indicate involvement in the pathophysiology of the condition.

INTRODUCTION: Serotonin is an important neuroendocrine transmitter participating in the control of colonic motor activity through neural and biochemical mechanisms in the Enteric Nervous System (ENS). A possible pathophysiological factor for diverticular disease (DD) is altered colonic motility. The study compared the distribution of serotonin cells (SC) in the colonic mucosa of patients with diverticular disease to controls. METHODS: Sixteen paraffin specimens with sigmoid diverticular disease were selected and sections of bowel without diverticula from the same specimen were used as its own control. The resection margins from sixteen colonic specimens excised for sigmoid cancer were additional controls. Immunocytochemical staining for serotonin cells was performed on 4-mum tissue sections with polyclonal antibody (NCL-SEROTp). The number of serotonin-positive cells per ten microscopic fields (x200) was assessed in all groups and the staining distribution was defined as low (0-33%), moderate (>33-66%) and high (>66%) according to the percentage of the entire cell containing contrast material. The control specimens were blinded before analysis. Student's t test was used for statistical analysis and significance level was set as P < 0.05. RESULTS: The mean number of serotonin-positive cells per ten fields in the colonic mucosa of specimens with diverticular disease was significantly higher [252.44 (SD 90.64)] than the specimen's own control [147.31 (SD 50.16)] and at normal resection margins of cancer specimens [228.38 (SD 120.10)]. The paired analysis between diverticular disease specimens and its own control (paired t test) showed significant differences for moderate (P = 0.008), high (P = 0.001) and total (P = 0.002) number of serotonin cells. There was no evidence of significance between mean DD and cancer values. DISCUSSION: Increased presence of SCs and the higher proportion of high and moderate staining cells (indicating increased hormone content) indicate the possible role of serotonin in DD. This may be contributing to the pathogenesis of the condition by altered colonic motility in the affected segments in a similar way as in irritable bowel syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Brain-behaviour relationships in people at high genetic risk of schizophrenia.

The brain is known to be structurally abnormal in schizophrenia, with replicated findings between anatomical deficits and some dysfunctions. These structure-function associations have, however, only very rarely been studied in relatives at risk of schizophrenia. We studied the relationships between structure and schizotypal features (assessed using RISC and SIS) and verbal learning and memory (measured using RAVLT) in relatives at high risk of developing schizophrenia and normal controls. Since these behavioural test scores are strong predictors of schizophrenia in the Edinburgh High Risk Study, we hypothesised that these relationships would differ between those high-risk subjects who will develop schizophrenia from those who will not. We performed multiple regressions of the grey matter segments of the subjects and controls, produced using grey matter optimised, voxel-based morphometry, with their RAVLT, SIS and RISC scores in SPM. Where significant relationships were found, we used SPSS to test for subject group by behavioural score interactions. In those high-risk subjects who became ill, grey matter density (GMD) was significantly correlated with RISC in the left superior temporal gyrus. In subjects who remained well, SIS was significantly correlated with GMD in the right pulvinar. Across the whole HR group, GMD in the right medial dorsal thalamic nucleus was significantly correlated with RAVLT. In those subjects who developed symptoms, RAVLT significantly correlated with GMD in right parahippocampal gyrus whereas in those who became ill, significant correlations existed bilaterally in the pulvinar. These results suggest complex and changing patterns of structural-functional relationships in those subjects at high-risk of schizophrenia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

Characteristics of troubled youths in a shelter.

The purposes of this descriptive study were to: (a) describe the identifiable characteristics of a population of runaway youths; (b) describe certain aspects of the youths' current and past situations, such as alcohol and drug use/abuse and a history of physical or sexual abuse; (c) identify significant life events by means of the Coddington Life Events Scale (LES); and (d) examine possible ways in which health and mental health practitioners can best assist these youths and their families through times of crisis. A convenience sample of 78 runaway youths was drawn from an available population of 780 youths who were admitted to a runaway shelter, during the 7-month period of the study. The shelter is located in a semiurban community in north central Florida. Data collection instruments included the Structured Clinical Interview Instrument and the LES. These were administered to volunteer youth participants during the face-to-face interviews. Data from the current study support the assertion that many runaway youths live in abusive situations and are exposed to drugs and alcohol from a variety of sources. Furthermore, the high scores on the LES show insurmountable levels of stressful life events that occur at any given time. Researchers recommend that prevention programs focusing on the antecedents of runaway behavior be developed to prevent future runaway episodes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Evolutionary aspects of foot disorders.

The modern human foot can be viewed as the basic prehensile grasping foot of humans' arboreal ancestors, modified by the need for a propulsive lever to serve bipedal walking. The structure of the human foot serves its function remarkably well. However, in spite of its evolutionary success, the foot remains susceptible to clinical disorders that can be related to its development from nonhuman ancestors. An understanding of the evolution of the foot offers a different perspective on some common human foot disorders, and can provide a framework for planning the treatment of those disorders.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Faculty attrition among three specialties.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To survey faculty attrition in emergency medicine and compare it with faculty attrition in the specialties of orthopedic surgery and cardiology. DESIGN: Chairmen of the three departments were surveyed regarding faculty attrition, work hours, and motivation for leaving. Those emergency physicians having left also were surveyed. MAIN RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 67 of 68 emergency medicine programs, 53 of 58 orthopedic programs, and 47 of 54 cardiology programs. Overall, there were 670 total faculty in emergency medicine, of which 67 (10%) left their positions during 1988-38 to enter private practice, 18 to take another academic position, and 11 to do something unidentified. There was no difference in faculty attrition among the three specialties or in what the physicians left to do (P = .75). Both the orthopedists and the cardiologists worked more total hours each week (P = .001) but fewer night hours (P = .03) than the emergency physicians. Among the 67 emergency medicine programs, 28 reported no attrition; 39 reported one or more physicians leaving the program. These two groups of programs did not differ in terms of faculty size, hours worked, or night hours worked.

Cardiology↗
PubMed1991

Intraplatelet serotonin, beta-thromboglobulin, and histamine concentrations and thromboxane A2 synthesis in renal disease.

Intraplatelet serotonin (5-HT), beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG), and histamine content as well as platelet total thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthesizing capacity were measured in 53 patients with chronic renal disease: nephrotic syndrome (n = 18); end-stage renal failure (ESRF; n = 13); continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD; n = 9); hemodialysis (HD; n = 13). These indices of platelet function were correlated with plasma total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) concentrations. When compared with controls, intraplatelet 5-HT was significantly reduced in all patient groups studied and beta-TG was diminished in all patient groups except CAPD. Total platelet TXA2 synthesizing capacity was increased in ESRF and HD groups. Intraplatelet histamine content was not altered in any of the patient groups studied. There was a significant inverse correlation between intraplatelet 5-HT content on the one hand and plasma TC, LDL-C, and TG on the other. The depletion of intraplatelet 5-HT and beta-TG and the increase in total TXA2 synthesizing capacity are consistent with platelet activation in chronic renal disease. The correlation between these indices of platelet activation and TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG suggests that changes in the concentrations of these lipids may contribute to the activation of platelets in these conditions.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Cases with ruptured membranes that "reseal".

Among patients with a diagnosis of preterm prepartal rupture of the membranes, an occasional case ceases to leak amniotic fluid before the onset of labor. The purpose of this case-control study was to determine the characteristics and obstetric outcomes of this unique group of patients. This diagnosis was made in 24 such patients who gave birth in 1984 and 1985 at Shands Hospital. Compared with matched control subjects who continued to leak fluid, there were no significant differences in maternal race, age, marital status, socioeconomic status, smoking status, or past obstetric performance. Amniotic fluid volumes, as assessed by ultrasound studies, were less in the group that failed to "reseal." The "reseal" group had longer durations of pregnancy, larger babies, longer maternal hospitalization, less neonatal hospitalization, and less perinatal mortality and morbidity. The occurrence of "resealing" appears to bode well for the mother and infant. Such cases should be sought aggressively but managed conservatively.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Splenic abscess in patients on hemodialysis.

We describe two patients on hemodialysis who developed staphylococcal splenic abscesses. Both patients previously had staphylococcal septicemia secondary to infection at the dialysis access site. We postulate that access-site infections may predispose hemodialysis patients to splenic abscess, and that these patients should be investigated for a splenic abscess if they should develop unexplained fever.

Abscess↗
PubMed1989

Gallium-67 scintigraphy in the detection of infected polycystic kidneys in renal transplant recipients.

Renal transplant recipients with underlying polycystic kidney disease (PKD) may present with recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI). This is often due to persistent infection in one or both of the native polycystic kidneys. It may be necessary to remove the infected kidney in order to remove the source of persistent infection. Gallium-67 scintigraphy was performed in 11 renal transplant recipients with underlying PKD. Positive studies were obtained in four recipients who had recurrent UTI. The scan also localized which of the kidneys (native or transplant) was the site of persistent infection. These four recipients subsequently had nephrectomy of the infected polycystic kidneys as suggested by the scan. Negative scans were obtained in seven recipients who did not have recurrent UTI. Gallium scintigraphy is a useful test for detecting and localizing the site of persistent UTI in renal transplant recipients with underlying PKD who present with recurrent UTI.

False Negative Reactions↗
PubMed1988

Symptomatic cytomegalovirus infection in seropositive kidney recipients: reinfection with donor virus rather than reactivation of recipient virus.

74 patients receiving cadaver kidney grafts were investigated prospectively for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Among seropositive recipients CMV infection, especially symptomatic and disseminated infection, occurred significantly more frequently when kidneys came from seropositive than from seronegative donors. Since seropositive recipients can become infected with donor virus, the excess is probably accounted for by reinfection. This conclusion was supported by restriction enzyme typing of virus isolates from recipient pairs receiving kidneys from the same donor; proven reinfection with donor strain virus was significantly commoner than proven reactivation of recipient virus. Furthermore, symptoms occurred only in the proven reinfection group. Although the proportion of reinfections that caused symptoms was less than that seen in primary infections, prior natural infection with CMV clearly does not prevent symptomatic reinfection in seropositive recipients, a point which has profound implications for future vaccination strategies in renal allograft recipients and choice of donors.

Cadaver↗
PubMed1984

The prevalence of hepatitis B serological markers in emergency physicians.

Hepatitis B (HBV) is a well-documented, increasing occupational hazard to those in the medical and dental professions. While the prevalence of markers of hepatitis B in the general population in the United States is approximately 3% to 5%, the prevalence in the health professions has been found to be higher. The prevalence of markers in 260 emergency physicians, consisting of teaching and nonteaching staff and emergency medicine residents, was the focus of this study. Two hundred fourteen participants had not received hepatitis B vaccine; 46 had received the vaccine. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), surface antibody (anti-HBs) and core antibody (anti-HBc) were tested. The overall prevalence of markers in the nonvaccinated group was 11.7% (25/214). Forty-one of 46 participants (89%) who had received hepatitis B vaccine demonstrated anti-HBs, evidence of immunity to hepatitis B. Thirty-nine of them had anti-HBs alone, and two had anti-HBs and anti-HBc. Of the five vaccinees who failed to demonstrate anti-HBs, one demonstrated anti-HBc alone. There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups in prevalence or type of markers. The prevalence of hepatitis B serological markers in this survey of emergency physicians was two and a half to four times that of the general population. Because of the increased risk of exposure to hepatitis B virus, early immunization against this disease through the use of hepatitis B vaccine should be considered by physicians in the practice of emergency medicine.

Emergency Medicine↗