PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

L Jacobson

Publications and source records attributed to L Jacobson.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources

Intrathecal methadone and morphine for postoperative analgesia: a comparison of the efficacy, duration, and side effects.

A double-blind study of patients selected at random compared the analgesic and adverse effects of intrathecal methadone (1 mg) with those of intrathecal morphine (0.5 and 1 mg). The study was conducted on 30 patients who underwent major orthopedic or urologic surgery. The intrathecal opioid was administered at the end of surgery, and assessments began 1 h thereafter and continued for 20 h. Pain measurements, supplementary analgesia requirements, and adverse effects were recorded. Intrathecal morphine (0.5 and 1 mg) provided effective and prolonged analgesia. Methadone, however, was unable to ensure the same degree of analgesia; consequently, the median pain scores were consistently higher following methadone than morphine (0.5 and 1 mg) (P less than 0.05). The time to the onset of discomfort severe enough to require supplemental morphine was longer after intrathecal morphine than that following methadone (24 and 29 h with morphine 0.5 and 1 mg; 6.5 h with methadone; P less than 0.05). Respiratory depression (increases PaCO2) was not associated with methadone and morphine 0.5 mg but was common following morphine 1 mg (P less than 0.05). Facial pruritus was unique to intrathecal morphine. Urinary retention requiring bladder catheterization was more frequent following morphine than methadone, although this was not statistically significant. Nausea and vomiting were common to all groups. Intrathecal morphine (0.5 and 1 mg) provides superior postoperative analgesia to 1 mg methadone. Various explanations for the observed differences between the drugs are discussed, including the possibility that the dose of methadone used in the subarachnoid space was inadequate and that a larger dose might have produced an effect equal to that of morphine.

Aged↗

ACTH secretion and ventilation increase at similar arterial PO2 in conscious rats.

To compare the arterial PO2 (PaO2) at which adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secretion and ventilation are stimulated, conscious rats with chronic femoral arterial catheters were exposed for 50 min to 21, 18, 15, 12, or 9% O2. Decreases in arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) and increases in arterial pH and adrenocortical system activity occurred consistently throughout the exposure period in rats exposed to 9 or 12% O2. In contrast, changes in PaCO2 or pH were only transient or delayed, plasma ACTH did not change, and plasma corticosterone only increased after 20 min in rats exposed to 15 or 18% O2 relative to those breathing 21% O2. Omitting the large blood sample at 20 min for ACTH eliminated the increase in corticosterone in the 15% O2 group. Overall, ACTH increased, and PaCO2 decreased, below PaO2 of approximately 60 Torr. We conclude that ACTH secretion increases at a similar PaO2 as hyperventilation-induced decreases in PaCO2 and thus represents a primary physiological response to acute hypoxia; hemodynamic stimuli may also interact with hypoxia to augment adrenocortical system activity.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

The adrenocortical system responds slowly to removal of corticosterone in the absence of concurrent stress.

After removal of corticosteroid feedback by surgical or pharmacological adrenalectomy, plasma ACTH increases more rapidly than can be explained by changes in receptor-mediated gene expression. In aminoglutethimide-treated rats, plasma ACTH increased only at doses much higher than those inhibiting plasma corticosterone, suggesting that adrenal enzyme blockers may themselves be stressful. To determine the adrenocortical system response to stressless corticosterone removal, adrenalectomized rats maintained for 5 days on corticosterone in the drinking water were switched to steroid-free fluid (-B) or again given steroid (+B); additional rats were adrenalectomized (ADX). Plasma ACTH did not differ between -B and +B rats until 18-24 h after steroid removal, regardless of whether steroid was withdrawn at the circadian maximum or minimum. Plasma ACTH was similar between -B and ADX rats 0.5-14 days after corticosterone removal, although morning plasma ACTH was more stable in -B rats at 4-7 days. Evening plasma ACTH increased significantly after day 3 in ADX and -B rats. Unlike ADX rats, -B rats did not exhibit pituitary ACTH depletion at 12 and 24 h, but both -B and ADX groups had significantly elevated pituitary ACTH by 6.5 days. We conclude that 1) rapid increases in ACTH secretion after surgical or pharmacological adrenalectomy result from interaction between stress and loss of corticosteroid feedback; 2) no immediate interaction occurs between loss of feedback and circadian stimuli; and 3) the effects of steroid withdrawal may require at least 3 days to be stably expressed.

Adrenal Cortex↗

Pharmacological evidence that the inhibition of diurnal adrenocorticotropin secretion by corticosteroids is mediated via type I corticosterone-preferring receptors.

These studies were performed to determine pharmacologically the corticosteroid receptor type that mediates the effects of corticosterone (B) on ACTH secretion in adrenalectomized rats. We have compared the effects of treating young male rats at the time of adrenalectomy and throughout the next 5 days with B, dexamethasone (DEX), or aldosterone (ALDO) in doses that elevated plasma levels to concentrations in the range between 0.2-30 nM. Plasma ACTH, corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG), and thymus weight were measured in the morning or evening, and these steroid-sensitive end points were related to the circulating concentrations of B (total B - CBG-bound B), total DEX, and total ALDO. For the inhibition of ACTH the rank order of potency of the three steroids was B greater than DEX greater than or equal to ALDO in the morning (estimated IC50, 0.7 +/- 0.1, 2.3 +/- 0.5, and 4.9 +/- 1.6 nM for B, DEX, and ALDO, respectively). There was a significant shift to the right in steroid efficacy between morning and evening (estimated IC50 in the evening, 3.9 +/- 0.2 and 9.3 +/- 0.8 nM for B and DEX; ALDO at the concentrations achieved was ineffective). The rightward shift in efficacy may result from the circadian increase in drive to ACTH secretion. The rank order of potency for B and DEX on ACTH and the agreement between the steady state IC50 values achieved for these steroids and the Kd values determined for B and DEX with type I receptors in vitro strongly suggest that feedback control of basal diurnal ACTH by corticosteroids is mediated by association with type I, B-preferring receptors. By contrast, DEX was 3 times more potent than B on CBG (estimated IC50, 1.5 and 4.5 nM, respectively) and tended to be more effective on thymus weight, suggesting that the effects of corticosteroids on these peripheral targets are mediated by association of the steroids with type II glucocorticoid receptors. ALDO coinfused with DEX or B did not alter the inhibitory effects of these on ACTH, suggesting that ALDO does not interfere with these type I, B-preferring receptors in vivo. Because there is little if any evidence for type I corticosteroid receptors in the hypothalamus, these results strongly suggest that the majority of corticosteroid feedback inhibition of basal morning and evening ACTH secretion is mediated transynaptically by the activity of extra-hypothalamic neurons.

Adrenalectomy↗

Intrathecal diamorphine: a dose-response study.

A randomised double-blind study compared the dose-response relationship of intrathecal diamorphine (0, 0.25, 0.75, 1.5, and 2.5 mg) for postoperative pain relief, in 35 subjects who underwent total knee replacement surgery. Assessments commenced 2 h after the opioid injection and continued for 20 h. Pain, analgesic effect, supplementary analgesic requirements and adverse effects were noted. Intrathecal diamorphine was unable to delay the initial perception of discomfort. It was, however, capable of postponing the onset of severe pain requiring analgesic supplementation (control 5.25 h vs approximately 8 h: P less than 0.05). There was no significant difference in the quality of analgesia between the groups. Pruritus was the only undesirable feature unique to intrathecal diamorphine administration. Intrathecal diamorphine was safe and was not associated with clinically apparent respiratory depression. Its effects were inconsistent and its use was associated with irritating side effects. Possible explanations for the erratic behaviour of the diamorphine are discussed.

Aged↗

Seroconversion, sexual activity, and condom use among 2915 HIV seronegative men followed for up to 2 years.

A cohort of 2915 HIV-1-seronegative men from the four centers of the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) was followed at 6 month intervals for 24 months to identify men who developed antibodies to HIV-1. Two hundred thirty-two men (8%) seroconverted. The highest attack rate was among men who reported practicing both receptive and insertive anal-genital intercourse. The attack rate among men who reported practicing receptive but not insertive intercourse was 3.6 times higher than among men practicing insertive intercourse although those practicing insertive only reported 38% more different partners. Only two men seroconverted who reported not practicing analgenital intercourse in the 12 month prior to the first antibody-positive visit. Because men were followed every 6 months, one of these men could have been infected within 6 months of the actual development of HIV-1 antibodies. The seroconversion rate was significantly lower among men who reported using condoms with all their partners. The results of this study (a) reaffirm that receptive anal-genital intercourse is the major route of infection among homosexual men of HIV-1, (b) suggest that there is a low risk of HIV-1 infection to the insertive partner in anal-genital intercourse, (c) suggest that infection may rarely occur through sexual activities other than anal-genital intercourse, (d) provide evidence that condoms as currently used by men in the MACS provide significant but not complete protection against HIV-1 infection, and (e) suggest that the number of men in the homosexual community engaging in high-risk behavior is declining.

Bisexuality↗

Ophthalmology in mentally retarded adults. A clinical survey.

Examination of 228 mentally retarded adults revealed that every fourth person in the group had a considerable visual handicap. In some of these cases this handicap was previously unknown. More than half of the examined had one or more ocular disorders. In 12 cases there was need for surgery. Fourteen eyes have subsequently been operated on, all without complications. Eight of these operations resulted in improved vision. Considerable refractive errors were found in 54 of the examined. In 70 cases glasses were prescribed, and in a majority of these cases the glasses were worn.

Adult↗

Constant corticosterone replacement normalizes basal adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) but permits sustained ACTH hypersecretion after stress in adrenalectomized rats.

To characterize further the effects of providing a constant corticosterone signal after bilateral adrenalectomy, we have compared the effects of bilateral adrenalectomy with no replacement (ADX) and with replacement with a corticosterone pellet implanted sc at surgery (B-PELLET) to those of sham-adrenalectomy (SHAM) on pituitary and plasma ACTH concentrations during the first 3 postoperative days. In ADX rats, plasma ACTH concentrations were elevated at all times compared to those in the SHAM group; pituitary ACTH content decreased during the first 12 h, then increased and was not different from that in the SHAM group thereafter. Replacement of corticosterone at the time of adrenal surgery in B-PELLET rats resulted in no differences in pituitary and plasma ACTH concentrations from SHAM values, suggesting that immediate steroid replacement prevents the major adrenalectomy-induced changes in central regulatory components governing basal activity of the adrenocortical system. Although B-PELLET rats had normal basal morning ACTH concentrations 5 days after surgery, they exhibited augmented and sustained ACTH responses to five different ACTH-releasing stimuli (injection, restraint, chlorpromazine, and, under pentobarbital anesthesia, morphine or sham adrenalectomy). The circulating corticosterone concentrations were maintained at relatively constant, low levels (3-6 micrograms/dl). Because these concentrations appear to restore basal morning ACTH concentrations to normal, but do not restore the ACTH response to stress to normal, we conclude that a different corticosterone signal is required to normalize stress-induced ACTH responses.

Adrenalectomy↗

Circadian variations in plasma corticosterone permit normal termination of adrenocorticotropin responses to stress.

We previously reported that adrenalectomized rats given constant corticosterone via a sc pellet (B-PELLET) hypersecrete ACTH in response to stress. Although lacking a feedback signal, B-PELLET rats do not secrete ACTH indefinitely after stress; plasma ACTH levels in these animals returned to those in sham-operated (SHAM) rats within 1-4 h after 2-min restraint. To distinguish between the requirement for circadian or stress-induced increases in corticosterone, we compared changes in ACTH and corticosterone levels after stress in SHAM and B-PELLET rats with those in cyanoketone-treated rats (CK) and adrenalectomized rats given corticosterone in their drinking fluid (B-WATER). B-WATER rats exhibited sustained increases in plasma corticosterone after lights-off, correlating with the nocturnal feeding period. Morning plasma corticosterone levels in B-WATER rats were constant and even lower than those in B-PELLET rats; however, B-WATER rats did not differ from SHAM rats in their ACTH response to ip injection. CK rats, which have an approximately normal circadian corticosterone rhythm but do not have significant corticosterone responses to acute stimuli, also exhibited plasma ACTH levels similar to those of SHAM rats at all times after 5-min restraint. Compared with SHAM and B-WATER rats in the same experiment, B-PELLET rats tended to hypersecrete ACTH 60 min after 5 min of restraint, but only had significantly elevated plasma ACTH relative to both groups 45 min after 10 min of restraint. We conclude that circadian, rather than stress-induced, increases in corticosterone may be sufficient for normal termination of ACTH responses to stress.

Adrenalectomy↗

A dose-response study of intrathecal morphine: efficacy, duration, optimal dose, and side effects.

We performed a double-blind study of the dose-response relationship of intrathecal morphine (0, 0.3, 1, and 2.5 mg) for postoperative pain relief in 33 subjects who underwent total knee or hip replacement surgery. Assessments commenced 1 hour after the opioid injection, which was given at the end of surgery, and continued for 24 hours. Pain measurements, supplementary analgesia requirements, and adverse effects were recorded. Intrathecal morphine provided effective, long-lasting pain relief. All doses delayed the initial perception of discomfort (T-Pain) and also postponed the onset of severe pain requiring analgetic supplementation (T-Morphine) (1.25 hours control with placebo injections; greater than 20 hours with intrathecal morphine 0.3, 1, and 2.5 mg: P less than 0.05). Although 0.3 mg usually provided good analgesia it was unsatisfactory in three of 10 patients (30%), whereas 1 and 2.5 mg were absolutely reliable. Respiratory depression (increased PaCO2), common after the administration of 1 or 2.5 mg intrathecal morphine, was slow in onset and prolonged. The respiratory depression after 2.5 mg was more profound than after 1 mg, and produced apnea necessitating large-dose naloxone therapy. Pruritus was unique to intrathecal morphine administration, but nausea, vomiting, and urinary retention were common in all the groups. We conclude that no ideal dose of intrathecal morphine exists because, even with small quantities, minor adverse effects are evident. Doses between 0.3 and 1 mg, however, should provide good analgesia free from the major complication, respiratory depression.

Aged↗

Effects of intrathecal fentanyl and lidocaine on somatosensory-evoked potentials, the H-reflex, and clinical responses.

Intravenous narcotics increase the latency of somatosensory-evoked potentials (SSEPS), which are decreased but not abolished by epidural local anesthetics. In addition, intrathecal narcotics decrease spasticity in patients with central nervous system disease. This study of the effects of intrathecal fentanyl on posterior tibial SSEPS and the monosynaptic H-reflex arc found that intrathecal fentanyl had no effect on the latency of SSEPS, indicating the effects of narcotics on SSEPS are likely to exist at a supraspinal level. H-reflexes were not affected, confirming the lack of effect on this spinal motor reflex. In the same group of patients, intrathecal lidocaine administered 1 week later completely abolished SSEPS and H-reflexes. Complete suppression of SSEPS corresponded to full motor blockade, but sensation to pain and temperature was already many dermatomes higher than the S1 level. Return of SSEPS occurred with return of motor but not sensory function, indicating the likelihood that SSEPS are carried at least in part by large A-fibers. The study shows that spinal narcotics neither affect the transmission of SSEPS nor decrease the H-reflex, a spinal motor reflex. In addition, changes in SSEPS after intrathecal lidocaine do not correlate with the level of surgical anesthesia.

Electric Stimulation↗

Characterization of corticosterone feedback regulation of ACTH secretion.

Adrenalectomy-induced increases in ACTH secretion in rats are returned to normal by an action of corticosterone on the brain, not on the pituitary. Five days after adrenalectomy with constant steroid replacement, the concentration of free corticosterone in plasma which reduces plasma ACTH by 50% is approximately 0.8 nM. By contrast, the concentration of free plasma corticosterone required for 50% reduction of thymus wet weight or plasma transcortin concentration (both targets for glucocorticoid action) is about 4.5 nM. These results suggested that the inhibition of ACTH by corticosterone might be mediated by association of the steroid with high affinity, type I corticosteroid receptors, whereas the inhibition of thymus weight and transcortin might be mediated by association of the steroid with lower affinity, type II receptors. The results of studies comparing the ability of corticosterone, dexamethasone and aldosterone to inhibit adrenalectomy-induced ACTH secretion support the hypothesis that basal ACTH secretion in rats is mediated by association of corticosterone with type I receptors.

Adrenalectomy↗

Rabbit myometrial oxytocin and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors are increased by estrogen but are differentially regulated by progesterone.

Both myometrial oxytocin and alpha 2-adrenergic receptors are induced by estrogen. To compare the regulation of these two receptor populations by progesterone, we measured myometrial receptor concentration in ovariectomized steroid-treated and in pregnant rabbits. To control for the effects of estrogen withdrawal, we used concomitant rather than sequential presentation of estrogen and progesterone in ovariectomized rabbits. Estradiol increased both myometrial oxytocin and alpha 2-adrenergic receptor concentrations in ovariectomized rabbits after 8 days of treatment. Simultaneous progesterone administration during the last 4 days of estradiol treatment reversed the induction of oxytocin, but not alpha 2-adrenergic, receptors. Similarly, administration of the antiprogestin RU 38486 to pregnant rabbits on day 27 of gestation resulted in premature delivery and evoked an increase in myometrial oxytocin receptor concentration mimicking that observed at term (day 31). However, RU 38486 did not significantly affect alpha 2-adrenergic receptor concentration. Our data provide further support for involvement of oxytocin receptors in parturition, but do not indicate a comparable function for myometrial alpha 2-adrenergic receptors.

Animals↗