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Biomedical subjects

J Sloboda

Publications and source records attributed to J Sloboda.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1993

Musical ability.

Musical ability is the ability to 'make sense' of music, and develops in most people over the first decade of life through normal enculturation. Whether this ability is developed to a high level usually depends on the decision to start learning a musical instrument, which forces high levels of focused cognitive engagement (practice) with musical materials. Performance ability has both technical and expressive aspects. These aspects are not always developed equally well. Factors contributing to the development of a well-balanced musical performer include (a) lengthy periods of engagement with music through practice and exploration, (b) high levels of material and emotional support from parents and other adults, (c) relationships with early teachers characterized by warmth and mutual liking, and (d) early experiences with music that promote, rather than inhibit, intense sensuous/affective experiences. It is argued that much formal education inhibits the development of musical ability through over-emphasis on assessment, creating performance anxiety, coupled with class and sex stereotyping of approved musical activities. Early free exploration of a medium is a necessity for the development of high levels of musicality.

Aptitude↗
PubMed1986

The blocking effect of disodium cromoglycate on carcinogenesis induced by benzo[a]pyrene.

Subcutaneous injection of 3 mg benzo[a]pyrene into the right hind leg of experimental rats resulted in local tumors in the area of application in all the animals. The same dose of disodium cromoglycate applied prior to benzo[a]pyrene prevented tumor formation or provoked a significant inhibition of the carcinogenic process, e.g. delay of tumor formation and of a reduced size, a number of mitoses and cytological abnormalities and a prolongation of the animal's life. In the in vitro Salmonella typhimurium mutation assay of Ames, disodium cromoglycate eliminated toxicity and mutagenicity of 5-nitro-2-furylacrylic acid. The results would suggest that the initial response of the cell to benzo[a]pyrene had been conducted through the calcium-dependent exocytic pathway, which can be efficiently blocked by disodium cromoglycate, probably by preventing the signals increase in free intracellular calcium concentration. The preserved calcium balance as a consequence of the effect of disodium cromoglycate on benzo[a]pyrene-induced cell response might be a factor responsible for the carcinogenesis inhibition phenomena. The results of the in vitro study in correlation with those obtained in vivo support the suggestion that disodium cromoglycate may influence parallel structures in various cell types.

Acrylates↗
PubMed1986

Comparative study of percentage of T-lymphocytes in blood in patients with breast and thyroid cancer.

The authors have studied the percentage of T-lymphocytes detected by means of an acid non-specific esterase technique (ANAE) in venous blood in patients with malignant tumors of mammary and thyroid glands. The examination was concentrated especially on a group of patients with both metastatic and non-metastatic tumors. The examination was performed before and after operation. It was found the the percentage of T-lymphocytes had been significantly higher in non-metastasizing tumors than in healthy individuals and lower both in metastasizing tumors and healthy controls. The percentage of T-lymphocytes in tumor-patients is relatively higher prior to operation than after it. Although the interpretation of these results is not easy, however, one may presume, that behavior of T-lymphocytes is a signal for alterations in immune system of the patients; further and more specific investigation is therefore urgent. This method is very useful in practice for monitoring mammary gland and thyroid tumors and perhaps other malignancies.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1986

[Thin-needle puncture aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of lymph node tumors].

356 patients were studied suffering from lymph node swelling of the neck, supraclavicular region, axilla and groin. A primary or secondary malignant process was confirmed in 196 cases, reactive or granulomatous changes were found in 151 cases, in 64 smears there were only a few lymphocytes and connective tissue. The last group was the source of 11 false negative results. Not a single false positive diagnosis was established. Histological correlation was made in 85 cases.

Adenocarcinoma↗