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Biomedical subjects

K Blum

Publications and source records attributed to K Blum.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1978

Behavior of Biozzi high and low responder mice upon infection with Schistosoma mansoni.

Mice genetically selected for high (Ab/H) or low (Ab/L) humoral antibody responses were infected with Schistosoma mansoni in order to assess the role of antibodies in innate and acquired immunity to this parasite. AbH mice produced higher levels of humoral antibodies to schistosome antigens, but were more susceptible to infection than Ab/L mice. This was shown by the higher number of parasites recovered from Ab/H mice, by the larger size of the parasites themselves, by the number of schistosome eggs and their rate of deposition in the host liver. In addition, Ab/L mice could develop an acquired resistance to schistosome re-infection which was as good as, or possibly even better than the resistance developed by Ab/H mice. These findings suggest that humoral antibodies per se may not play a critical role in schistosome immunity, and at the same time call attention to the possible importance of macrophages in determining the results observed.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Putative role of isoquinoline alkaloids in alcoholism: a link to opiates.

Although the isoquinoline hypothesis has stimulated and even tantalized the scientific inquiry of a small number of investigators, it has been an area of widespread controversy. For the most part, until recently, alcohol researchers would ascribe very little importance to the role played by insoquinolines in alcohol actions or in the disease state known as alcoholism. To most, there was adequate evidence that these condensation amines had potent pharmacologic properties but little was known about their biochemical and behavioral interaction with ethanol or opiates. As pointed out here, there is an increasing amount of evidence that indicates the putative role of isoquinolines as regulators of alcohol dependence. There is even evidence that suggests a possible "link" to opiates. If this turns out to be the case, then it is rational to consider the possibility that when one imbibes alcohol a central opiate-like substance is, in essence, produced. It would appear that the sum total of evidence to date supports the notion that there are common territories between the two highly addictive classes of drugs--alcohol and opiates. Although still not definite, future studies may well confirm the intermediacy of the TIQ compounds.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1978

Improved ultraviolet spectrophotometry of serum theophylline.

We present an improved method for ultraviolet spectrophotometry of theophylline in serum. We studied various extraction techniques aimed at eliminating interferences from co-extractable serum constituents. In the resulting modified procedure, 1 ml of serum is required and a salt-solvent pair of ammonium sulfate and chloroform/hexane is used for extraction. The solvent forms the top phase after extraction, the lower phase after back-extraction, thereby permitting easy removal of the appropriate phase from culture tubes. The use of ammonium sulfate coupled with the added specificity of the extraction solvent results in an extract with low background absorption and a well-defined spectrum for the extracted theophylline.

Humans↗
PubMed1978

[The random dot test as a screening method for the visual acuity in children (author's transl)].

The Random Dot Test was used for a screening of the visual acuity of children of 6 to 10 years of age. The testing time is reduced by 50% as compared with the examination by means of illiterate E images on cardboard charts. Children with refractive errors of up to 3 delta but normal visual acuity after correction are not detected at the examination distance of 1.30 m used in this study. None out of 672 children with severe eye diseases gave false negative results with the Random Dot Test. Disturbances of the binocular vision could also be detected with the Random Dot Test.

Child↗
PubMed1977

Analgesic effects of 3-carboxysalsolinol alone and in combination with morphine.

A biphasic dose-response pattern is generated by the isoquinoline, 3-carboxysalsolinol, in analgesia tests conducted in mice. Carbidopa pretreatment enhances this effect, as well as the morphine-induced analgesic increase by 3-carboxysalsolinol. Naloxone blockade of all of these responses suggests an interaction of the alcohol-based isoquinoline with central opiate receptors.

Analgesia↗
PubMed1977

Intensification of amphetamine-induced excitation by methysergide, a serotonergic receptor blocker.

Methysergide, a serotonergic receptor blocker, was studied to determine its effects against d-amphetamine-induced excitation as measured by convulsions elicited by handling in mice. Significant intensification (p less than 0.01) of the action of d-amphetamine was observed in mice. These results indicate that reduction in serotonergic activity in the central nervous system enhances excitation induced by d-amphetamine.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Peyote, a potential ethnopharmacologic agent for alcoholism and other drug dependencies: possible biochemical rationale.

The authors examine folk psychiatry among Native American Church members from an enthnopharmacologic viewpoint. Alcohol and opiate abuse among Indian and non-Indian are presented in case histories proving to be asymptomatic under Indian guidance and through participation in the peyote ritual. The biochemical alkaloids common in the peyote cactus, rather than just the psychoactive substances (mescaline), are purported to be pharmacologically similar to the neuroamine-derived alkaloids found in the brain during alcohol intoxification. Evidence is reviewed that points out possible common features of alcohol and opiate dependence leading to the speculation for a common mode of treatment may reside in plants rich in isoquinoline alkaloids.

Adult↗