PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

K Huntington

Publications and source records attributed to K Huntington.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Deficits in memory strategy use related to prefrontal dysfunction during early development: evidence from children with phenylketonuria.

The prefrontal cortex has been implicated in the mediation of executive processes that facilitate learning and memory. The authors hypothesized that children with prefrontal dysfunction related to phenylketonuria (PKU) would experience deficits in learning and memory because of impaired strategy use. They evaluated 23 children with PKU and 23 controls by using the California Verbal Learning Test-Children's Version (CVLT-C). General executive abilities were tested using the Stroop Color and Word Test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, and phonemic and category fluency. Children with PKU, especially older children, showed poorer learning across trials and less use of semantic clustering on the CVLT-C but intact retention of previously encoded information. With the exception of phonemic fluency, deficits were not observed in general executive control. Results are discussed within the context of abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex and white matter of the brain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Increased cardiac and pulmonary endothelin-1 mRNA expression in canine pacing-induced heart failure.

The canine model of pacing-induced heart failure (HF) simulates human dilated cardiomyopathy and is characterized by severe hemodynamic perturbations. We have previously demonstrated increased plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) and left ventricular (LV) tissue peptide levels in this model. However, the gene expression of ET-1 has not been studied. Accordingly, we compared preproET-1 mRNA in the lungs and LV in control normal dogs, dogs with severe HF after 3 weeks of rapid pacing (pHF), and pHF dogs chronically treated with an ETA antagonist, LU135252 (pHF-LU). PreproET-1 mRNA expression was determined by ribonuclease protection assay and quantified by densitometry. In paced dogs, mean pulmonary artery pressure (PA) and LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) increased markedly from 16 +/- 4 and 8 +/- 3 mm Hg, respectively, at baseline to 40 +/- 11 and 34 +/- 7 mm Hg, respectively, at 3 weeks (both p < 0.001). Treatment with LU135252 attenuated the increase in PA and LVEDP by 30% and 19%, respectively (p < 0.05 for both). Compared to controls, preproET-1 mRNA expression in the LV and lungs was markedly increased in pHF. This was not changed in the LV but was reduced in the lungs by treatment with the ETA antagonist. Increased pulmonary and LV expression of preproET-1 suggests that ET-1 plays a role in mediating the pulmonary hypertension and LV dysfunction characteristic of this model.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

A prospective study to assess the frequency of familial clustering of congenital bicuspid aortic valve.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine the rate of familial occurrence of congenital bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) by using echocardiography to screen family members. BACKGROUND: Congenital BAV is a common anomaly that carries with it a significant risk of potential long-term cardiac complications. Despite several reports of the familial occurrence of BAV, the condition is not generally considered to be inherited. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients with echocardiographically documented congenital BAV were interviewed to construct three-generation family pedigrees. All first-degree relatives were contacted to undergo echocardiography to specifically determine aortic valve morphology. RESULTS: Of the 210 first-degree relatives, 190 (90.5%) agreed to undergo echocardiography. Four members had technically difficult studies. Of the remaining 186 subjects, 17 (9.1%) were identified as having BAV; 11 (36.7%) of the 30 families had at least one additional member with the condition. The male/female ratio of affected members in the 11 families was 1. In one family, two instances of male-to-male transmission were observed. The distribution of BAV in the majority of multiplex families is compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated a high incidence of familial clustering in congenital BAV. We believe that the high rate of occurrence of the condition in immediate relatives justifies echocardiographic screening of first-degree relatives to anticipate and prevent future complications associated with this common cardiac malformation.

Aortic Valve↗
PubMed1996

Macro-ergonomic risk assessment in nuclear remediation industry.

In this study, a macro-ergonomic risk assessment tool was developed based on criteria of scope, simplicity, practicality, usefulness, reliability and job-specificity. A relative stress index 'RSI' was formulated to take into account multiple parameters, such as frequency, duration, repetition, weight, force, travel distance and horizontal distance. This tool was tested in nuclear remediation industry. The results are presented and discussed.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1989

The relationship of swimming exercise to bone mass in men and women.

Exercise appears to be capable of exerting a positive effect on bone mass, but how exercise can be used to best advantage in the prevention and therapy of osteopenia is unclear. Weight-bearing activity has been commonly considered to be essential for the beneficial effects of exercise on the skeleton, and, therefore, swimming has been considered valueless in the maintenance of bone mass. To examine this issue we measured radial and vertebral bone mineral density in a group of subjects aged 40 to 85 years who had been swimming regularly for at least 3 years as well as in a similar group of nonexercising control subjects. The swimmers engaged in no other forms of regular exercise, and no subject had other conditions known to affect bone or mineral metabolism. Dietary calcium and protein intakes were similar in the two groups. At both radial (0.84 +/- 0.08 vs 0.81 +/- 0.09 g/cm2) and vertebral (123 +/- 27 vs 108 +/- 31 mg/cm3) sites the male swimmers had significantly greater bone mineral density than did the nonexercisers. In women, however, no relationship of swimming to bone mineral density could be identified. These results suggest that swimming exercise may be beneficial in the prevention or therapy of osteopenia and that its usefulness in this regard should be further investigated.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Forensic gynaecology.

To put a patient at ease is always important, but this is especially so when making an examination following a sexual offence. The place of examination is important. The choice can be a police station, a hospital or your own consulting-room. If at all possible, your own consulting-room is best. Always explain exactly what you are doing and for what reason. This is reassuring to the patient. Take the specimens systematically. Number and label them carefully before handing them over to the police officer. Notes taken at the time of your examination can be used when giving evidence in court. Therefore legible notes are invaluable. I have also found it useful to have a photostat of my statement as a witness. The police will provide this on request. Note-taking is particularly important in cases in which there are special difficulties. Examinations following sexual assault involve attending court to give evidence. By no means all the examinations made will lead to court cases. Often the accused cannot be found, sometimes the woman drops the allegation, or the Director of Public Prosecutions does not recommend the case to come for trial. Since the Criminal Justice Act 1967 it has been possible in all criminal proceedings to admit a written statement as evidence just as if it had been given orally. This statement must be signed by the witness, who will be liable to prosecution if he has stated in it anything that he knew to be false or did not believe to be true. A copy is served on the opposing side and if they make no objection it can be used by the defence in evidence. In other words, your presence in court is necessary only if some point needs to be made clear by cross-examination. I should like to see long-term follow up of rape victims. At present there is none that I know of, but at least some immediate reassurance and explanation can be given to the patient, together with treatment and recommendations for further care if necessary.

Abortion, Illegal↗