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Biomedical subjects

L J Ream

Publications and source records attributed to L J Ream.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1985

Effect of small doses of aspirin and acetaminophen on total menstrual loss and pain of cramps and headache.

90 women participated in a 4-month study. During the first 2 periods, they took no pain relievers whatsoever; during their last 2 periods they took 2 X 325 mg aspirin, acetaminophen or an identically packaged placebo every 4 h to total 8 tablets during the first 24 h of their periods beginning with spotting. For statistical analysis, periods 1 and 2 were combined and averaged, then compared with periods 3 and 4 combined and averaged. Total menstrual loss in grams, number of days of flow, and pain of cramps and headaches were analyzed by MANOVA for each of the three treatment groups. An ANOVA for each of these variables as well as for daily menstrual loss for the first 3 menstrual days was also performed. The MANOVA for all variables by the three treatment groups failed to show any significant differences. Similarly, ANOVAs for the individual variables failed to indicate significant differences except for the variable pain of cramps (p = 0.0072). The Duncan's Multiple Range Test for pain of cramps showed that the average pain for the placebo group was higher than for either the aspirin or the acetaminophen group, although the means for these two groups were not significantly different. These results indicate that neither aspirin nor acetaminophen in the doses given alter either total menstrual loss or the pattern of loss during the first 3 menstrual days. However, both preparations were found to be more effective than placebo in reducing pain of cramps.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed1985

Placentas from spontaneously hypertensive rats and control strain Wistar-Kyoto rats.

Placentas from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were compared to those of control strain Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) at 15, 18 and 20 days of gestation using light microscopic techniques. Placental lesions similar to those in pregnant hypertensive women were absent in both strains; however, other abnormalities were noted. Hemorrhage at the lateral edges of the decidua basalis appeared to be more extensive in the SHR than WKY at 15 days. At the same time, bloody vaginal discharges were noted in 18% of the SHR. Leukocytic encapsulation of 20-day placentas with viable fetuses was noted in two SHR dams but not in any WKY. It is thought that these differences may be related to the high maternal blood pressure in the SHR or to hormonal imbalance associated with the stress response in the SHR due to frequent monitoring of blood pressure.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Umbilical vessels of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Umbilical vessels of spontaneously hypertensive rats, control strain Wistar-Kyoto rats and rats treated with alpha-methyldopa were compared using the scanning electron microscope and light microscope. Observations with the scanning electron microscope revealed that the venous endothelial cells were relatively flat, giving the luminal surface of the vein a smooth appearance. The nuclear region of the fusiform arterial endothelial cells was responsible for the bumpy appearance of the luminal surface of the artery. Microvilli were a consistent feature of the endothelium in both umbilical vessels. There was no consistent pattern of distribution or density of microvilli within either vessel, but microvilli were more abundant on the luminal surface of the artery than in the vein. The luminal surface of some endothelial cells of the artery had long straight processes which crossed several cells before terminating. Light microscopic observations revealed that the endothelial cells and cells of the tunica intima and media contained an abundance of glycogen. The same layers stained sparsely for acid glycosaminoglycans. Maternal hypertension and treatment of spontaneously hypertensive rats with the antihypertensive drug, alpha-methyldopa, did not result in significant morphological alterations of either the endothelium or tunica media of the umbilical blood vessels.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Do aspirin and acetaminophen affect total menstrual loss?

Two commonly taken over-the-counter analgesics, aspirin and acetaminophen, were compared for: effect on total menstrual loss, effect on total days of menstruation, and effect in reduction of pain due to headaches and/or menstrual cramps. Drugs were administered during a 4-month study according to a double-blind format. During the first 2 months, subjects ingested no drugs whatsoever during their menstrual periods. During the second 2 months, subjects ingested aspirin, acetaminophen, or placebo at the rate of two 325-mg tablets every 4 h to total 8 tablets per day during the first 3 days of their menstrual periods. Statistical analysis of the first 2 periods compared to the last 2 showed no differences in total menstrual weights. The number of days of menstruation in the placebo group was significantly lower (p = 0.0137) than in its own control or in the other groups. Neither analgesic showed a significant reduction in pain due to headache or cramps, although acetaminophen appeared to be slightly more effective than aspirin in reducing menstrual cramps.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed1984

The effect of an H1 blocker, chlorpheniramine maleate, on total menstrual loss.

50 subjects participated in a 4-month study of the effects of an antihistamine on total menstrual loss. During the first 2 periods, no drugs were given; during the last 2 periods, an antihistamine or a placebo was administered according to a double-blind format. The menstrual weights of the first 2 months were averaged and compared with averages from the last 2 months combined. The treated group showed an average decrease in menstrual loss of 11.30 g compared to a decrease of 0.98 g in the placebo group. While the difference in means was not statistically significant, the variance between the 2 groups was significant (p = 0.0002), indicating that the antihistamine, chlorpheniramine maleate, was effective in reducing menstrual loss in certain individuals, but that the effect was neither uniform nor universal.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

A rapid, noninvasive method for evaluation of total menstrual loss.

Three types of packages containing enough sanitary supplies for one menstrual period were weighed and distributed to 100 subjects to determine adequacy of supplies and compliance to protocol. Returned packages were then reweighed to determine total menstrual loss. No subject used all the supplies in her package; therefore, packages contents were deemed ample. 7 subjects added their own purchased products to their packages; since added products were specified by name, weight corrections were easily made. 2 subjects lost unused supplies which were specified, and weight corrections were made accordingly. Evaporative loss from sealed and stored and frequently opened packages was measured. 100 g distilled water were added to contents inside 60 packages which were sealed and set aside 7 days. Average loss from these packages was 0.65 +/- 0.57 g. 5 g water were added to 60 packages 4 times daily for 5 days (100 g total). Then packages were set aside for 2 days and weighed on day 7. Average loss from these packages was 1.25 +/- 0.85 g. The combination of storage plus frequent opening resulted in an average loss of 1.90 +/- 0.87 g. Thus, the direct-weight method permits recovery of 97-98% of sample.

Adult↗
PubMed1983

Bone morphology of weanling rats from dams subjected to fluoride.

Femurs of weanling rats from third-pregnancy litters of dams given 150 ppm fluoride in the drinking water were examined by light-and scanning-electron microscopy. Under the conditions of the experimental procedure, no pathological changes were seen in the femurs as a result of maternal ingestion of fluoride. These results indicate that the amount of fluoride crossing the placenta and mammary gland was insufficient to produce significant morphological changes in the bones of 3-week-old rats.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Absorptive structures of the mouse yolk sac placenta and associated placental surfaces. A scanning electron microscope study.

Membranes of the visceral and parietal yolk sacs and their adjacent placental surfaces were examined at 13, 18 and 21 days of gestation in the mouse by scanning electron microscopy. The exterior or endodermal surface of the visceral yolk sac was characterized by a villous area attached to the placental disc, a central transition zone, and a smooth distal area. At all days, the abundant microvilli of the villous region were either elongated or bleb-shaped. At 13 days microvilli of cells in the transitional zone and smooth area were uniformly rod-shaped in contrast to the longer microvilli seen at 18 and 21 days; moreover, denuded cells were frequently seen at 21 days. Large squamous endodermal cells on the surface of the placental disc outside the visceral yolk sac were separated by wide intercellular spaces bridged by cytoplasmic processes at all days. Microvilli of these cells were sparse at day 13 but became abundant at day 18 then decreased by day 21. Endodermal cells of the adjacent parietal yolk sac changed from a rounded to a flattened shape from 18 to 21 days, with microvilli being more abundant at 18 days. In contrast to the outer endodermal surface of the visceral yolk sac, the inner mesothelial surface was devoid of villi. At 13 days contiguous edges of cells interdigitated giving the lateral cell borders a microvillous-like appearance. The surface of these cells had a sparse covering of microvilli which became more abundant as the surface was drawn into folds at 18 and 21 days. The adjacent fetal placental surface was covered by flattened cells with few surface specializations. Our observations support an absorptive role for the endodermal surfaces of the visceral and parietal yolk sacs and the associated surfaces of the mouse placenta.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Retained placentas in a colony of mice.

Twenty mice were killed 1-6 days after parturition, and the uterine contents were examined grossly and microscopically. Uteri of 10 animals had retained one or more placentas, each of which was firmly attached to the uterus and usually exhibited fetal membranes and an umbilical cord. Histologic preparations revealed that the fetal blood channels in the labyrinth region were collapsed and fibrosed while some maternal blood channels were open and contained blood cells. In the junctional zone and decidua, necrosis and leukocytic invasion were evident. In median sections, a stalk of fibrous tissue extended from the uterus to the placenta.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Scanning electron microscopy of the femoral epiphyseal plate and metaphysis of the rat after short-term fluoride ingestion.

Anorganic preparations of the distal metaphyseal and epiphyseal regions of the femoral bones from young male rats given 150 ppm fluoride in the drinking water for 10 weeks were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Longitudinal sections of the bones revealed an increase in the zone of mature hypertrophied cells of the epiphyseal plates as compared with controls. The lacunae in this zone varied considerably in size and shape, and were arranged in irregular nests rather than in parallel rows. Within the cavity of the shaft, the amount of cancellous bone was reduced, particularly in the central areas of the metaphyses where the network of trabeculae was sparsely distributed. The trabeculae located in the more peripheral areas of the metaphyses were broad and heavy in appearance. Areas of fully or partially mineralized bone were markedly reduced. The bone surfaces were rough, irregular and covered with numerous Howship's lacunae. The results of this investigation indicate that the initial effects of fluoride on bone include an inhibition of resorption in the epiphyseal plate coupled with an increase in resorption of metaphyseal trabecular bone.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

The effects of fluoride on the periosteal and endosteal surfaces of the rat femur. A scanning electron microscope study.

Anorganic preparations of the femoral diaphyses of male rats given 150 ppm fluoride in the drinking water for 10 weeks were examined by scanning electron microscopy and compared to similar preparations from control, untreated rats. In fluoride-treated rats, the surface features of the periosteum were characteristic of woven bone formation. Apposition areas appeared uneven and frayed, consisting of bunches of poorly-defined needles. The mineralized segments varied in size with wide gaps in between, suggesting a delay in the rate of mineralization at the periosteum. The uneven surface was a reflection of the underlying irregular orientation of the collagen fiber bundles. Numerous osteocyte lacunae buried at various depths were evident, and the lacunar walls were irregular with mineralized segments running in all directions. These features were in contrast to the ordered arrangement of both the collagen fiber bundles and osteocytes seen in typical lamellar bone formation of the untreated animals. On the endosteal surfaces, apposition areas as well as fully mineralized areas appeared similar in both groups. However, well-defined resorption areas were decreased in the fluoride-treated rats. The few Howship's lacunae present on the endosteal surfaces were shallow and poorly formed. These observations of the femoral diaphyses indicate that the ingestion of fluoride for 10 weeks in the rat results in an increase in matrix and bone formation at the periosteum with a concomitant decrease in resorptive activity at the endosteum.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Developmental changes in the mouse amnion: a SEM study.

Both surfaces of the mouse amnion from 13 to 21 days of gestation were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The exocoelomic surface is covered by mesenchymal cells and randomly arranged fine fibers at 13 days. By 21 days, these cells are covered by thick fibers frequently arranged in woven pattern. The ectodermal lining of the amniotic cavity at 13 days is characterized by squamous epithelial cells with central patches of short microvilli. An apparent increase in microvilli occurs by 16 days followed by either the loss of microvilli or the formation of microridges by 21 days. These changes may reflect functional changes of the amnion or processes of cell aging.

Amnion↗
PubMed1981

Fluoride stimulation of the rat parathyroid gland: an ultrastructural study.

The parathyroid glands of rats given 150 ppm fluoride in the drinking water for 10 weeks are evaluated ultrastructurally and compared to the parathyroid glands of untreated rats. As a result of fluoride ingestion, the majority of the parathyroid cells are dark chief cells, indicating that these cells are in the active stages of the secretory cycle. More significantly, in the fluoride-treated rats, the cytoplasmic organelles of the dark chief cells are even more developed that those seen in the dark chief cells of untreated rats. The dark cells contain an electron-dense cytoplasm with abundant lamellar arrays of rough endoplasmic reticulum, spiral aggregations of free ribosomes, multiple dilated Golgi complexes, and increased numbers of secretory granules. The cells are at a minimum dimension with maximum tortuosity of the plasma membranes; and, as a result, large intercellular spaces are often seen between contiguous cells. Based on these observations, it is suggested that, in the fluoride-treated rat, a type of secondary hyperparathyroidism develops resulting in an increase in the organelles involved in protein synthesis and secretion.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Glycogen accumulation in the parathyroid gland of the rat after fluoride ingestion.

The parathyroid glands of young male rats given 150 ppm fluoride in their drinking water for 10 weeks were examined by transmission electron microscopy. As a result of fluoride ingestion, the parathyroid chief cells of the experimental animals accumulated glycogen in excess of that seen in control animals given distilled drinking water for the same time period. In the majority of active chief cells, glycogen granules were diffusely spread throughout the cytoplasm as single granules or in small deposits. Large aggregations of glycogen granules were also seen within intercellular spaces. Accompanying the increase in glycogen was a rise in the number and development of the organelles associated with protein synthesis and secretion. The accumulation of glycogen is similar to that in hyperparathyroidism caused by chronic stimulation and prolonged secretory activity of the parathyroid gland. The results of this study suggest that increased amounts of glycogen occur in hyperactive chief cells of the parathyroid in response to the ingestion of large doses of fluoride.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

The effects of short-term fluoride ingestion on bone formation and resorption in the rat femur.

The femurs from rats given 120 ppm fluoride in their drinking water for 4 weeks were examined with histological, histochemical, and radiographic methods. Blood removed from the rats prior to sacrifice was analyzed for calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase. Results of this study indicated that the ingestion of fluoride produced wide osteoid seams on the periosteal surface of the femoral diaphysis within 4 weeks. The increase in osteoid appeared to be due to an increase in the number of osteoid-producing cells (osteoblasts) along with a subsequent delay in the mineralization of this tissue. The metabolic activity of osteoblasts did not appear to be affected since the intracellular production of acid and alkaline phosphatase was not inhibited. However, due to the high concentration of fluoride ingested, abnormal collagen deposition and a change in bone mineral may have combined to cause a delay in osteoid mineralization. Mineralization was also delayed in the distal femoral epiphyseal plate resulting in an increase in the number of hypertrophied cells. Resorption of metaphyseal trabecular bone, presumably formed prior to fluoride administration, was increased causing a reduction in the amount of trabeculae extending into the shaft of the femur. Concurrent with these changes in bone, the serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase remained within normal ranges.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Ultrastructural observations on the mechanism of secretion in the rat parathyroid after fluoride ingestion.

The secretory mechanism of the parathyroid glands of fluoride-treated rats is evaluated ultrastructurally and compared to that of control rats. The principal difference between the two groups of rats concerns the rate of activity of the chief cells of the gland. In the control animals, these cells are predominantly inactive. In the fluoride-treated rats, they exhibit a more active stage of the secretory cycle. The active chief cells in rats treated with fluoride contain increased numbers of secretory granules. These granules are released into the perivascular spaces within cytoplasmic projections suggesting an apocrine-like mechanism for the secretion of parathyroid hormone. Secretory granules are observed free in the perivascular spaces and within the cytoplasm of capillary endothelial cells in the parathyroid glands.

Animals↗