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Biomedical subjects

J R Hughes

Publications and source records attributed to J R Hughes.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

The human amygdala. I. Electrophysiological responses to odorants.

Nine patients had an amygdalotomy for attempted relief of intractable seizures and, as an aid for localization, recordings were made from the amygdala and later computer analyzed. The background activity is 3-18 c/sec; in response to odorants sinusoidal bursts are seen, synchronous with inspiration at 12-24 c/sec, but mainly 40-70 c/sec. Each odorant is associated with a given group of frequency components. However, for many different odorants the number of these components is restricted and the hypothesis is presented that odor discrimination in man's amygdala is not determined by which components are present, but the patterning of the components according to their amplitude. Odorants within the same odor class produced similar patterns of response. Epileptiform activity was recorded in two different forms, one in response to odors, similar in frequency to the slower bursts, except for sharper configurations, at times progressing to clinical seizures and the second as an insertion discharge from an advancing electrode, similar in frequency to the faster bursts. These latter data suggest that the repertoire of a given neural system or structure may be limited to specific frequencies but the configuration or patterning of these frequencies define the different states of the structure.

Amygdala↗
PubMed1979

Pharmacological treatment of aggressive behavior and emesis in the Cornelia de Lange Syndrome.

Chlorpromazine and fluphenazine decanoate were employed to treat aggressive behavior and emesis in a 22-year-old patient with Cornelia de Lange syndrome. Institution of the above neuroleptics, following an unsuccessful trial of diazepam, produced reductions of 95.1 per cent and 37.9 per cent for aggressive behavior and emesis, respectively. Four follow-up observations, occurring at 3-week intervals, revealed maintenance of low rates of aggressive behavior and continued reductions in emesis (mean reduction of 81.5 per cent). These findings are important for their a) inclusion of direct behavioral observation as the data base, and b) initial promising effects of neuroleptics for a rare mental retardation syndrome.

Adult↗
PubMed1979

Determination of pulmonary blood flow by the rebreathing technique in airflow obstruction.

To test the hypothesis that the effect of nonuniform gas distribution on the uptake of inhaled soluble gases in the lung is minimized by rebreathing, we measured pulmonary blood flow by the thermodilution technique, and pulmonary capillary blood flow, combined pulmonary tissue and capillary blood volume, diffusing capacity of the lung for CO, and alveolar volume by a rebreathing technique in conscious sheep before and immediately after inhalation of a histamine aerosol (4% solution). We also measured pulmonary resistance, distribution of ventilation by multiple-breath N2 washout, and arterial blood gases to monitor airway responses. Histamine inhalation produced a mean pulmonary resistance increase to 621% of baseline accompanied by uneven distribution of ventilation and a decrease in arterial Po2. Despite these alterations in airway function, there were no concomitant changes in pulmonary capillary blood flow, combined pulmonary tissue and capillary blood volume, diffusing capacity of the lung for CO, alveolar volume, or the ratio of diffusing capacity for CO to alveolar volume. Mean pulmonary capillary blood flow and pulmonary blood flow did not differ from each other before and after histamine inhalation. We conclude that the rebreathing technique for noninvasive measurement of pulmonary hemodynamics is satisfactory in the presence of airflow obstruction.

Airway Obstruction↗
PubMed1976

An ergot alkaloid preparation (Hydergine) in the treatment of dementia: critical review of the clinical literature.

A critical review is presented of 12 clinical trials with Hydergine (a hydrogenated ergot alkaloid preparation) in the treatment of dementia. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons of improvement in symptoms showed that Hydergine consistently produced statistically significant (p less than or equal to 0.05) improvement in 13 symptoms associated with dementia. However, because of the small magnitude of the improvement and the absence of indications of long-term benefit, Hydergine would seem to be of minor value in dementia therapy. Further research with better methodology and design might lead to a different conclusion.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1975

Amygdalotomy for bilateral temporal lobe seizures.

A 37-year-old woman had bilateral anygdalotomy for psychomotor and minor motor seizures and long periods of very pronounced mental depression. The patient has been seizure-free for four years postoperatively. A preoperative left temporal spike focus disappeared after extensive left anygdalotomy. Of particular interest in this case is the recovery of olfactory and memory functions which were partially impaired by the bilateral lesions. Bilateral anygdalotomy is effective in relieving temporal lobe seizures without the complications and deficits that usually occur with resections of the bilateral temporal lobe.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1975

Identification of flurazepam (Dalmane) and a primary metabolite in urine by thin-layer chromatography.

A relatively simple, routine method has been described for the qualitative identification of flurazepam and its primary metabolite 7-chloro-1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-(2-fluorophenyl)-1,3-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one in urine. We have described two extractions and several identification procedures by which flurazepam and its primary urinary metabolite can be identified by TLC.

Anti-Anxiety Agents↗