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Biomedical subjects

M A Russell

Publications and source records attributed to M A Russell.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1979

Effect of general practitioners' advice against smoking.

During four weeks all 2138 cigarette smokers attending the surgeries of 28 general practitioners (GPs) in five group practices in London were allocated to one of four groups: group 1 comprised non-intervention controls; group 2 comprised questionnaire-only controls; group 3 were advised by their GP to stop smoking; and group 4 were advised to stop smoking, given a leaflet to help them, and warned that they would be followed-up. Adequate data for follow-up were obtained from 1884 patients (88%) at one month and 1567 (73%) at one year. Changes in motivation and intention to stop smoking were evident immediately after advice was given. Of the people who stopped smoking, most did so because of the advice. This was achieved by motivating more people to try to stop smoking rather than increasing the success rate among those who did try. The effect was strongest during the first month but still evident over the next three months and was enhanced by the leaflet and warning about follow-up. An additional effect over the longer term was a lower relapse rate among those who stopped, but this was not enhanced by the leaflet and warning about follow-up. The proportions who stopped smoking during the first month and were still not smoking one year later were 0.3%, 1.6%, 3.3%, and 5.1% in the four groups respectively (P <0.001).The results suggest that any GP who adopts this simple routine could expect about 25 long-term successes yearly. If all GPs in the UK participated the yield would exceed half a million ex-smokers a year. This target could not be matched by increasing the present 50 or so special withdrawal clinics to 10 000.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Improved gas chromatographic method and micro-extraction technique for the measurement of nicotine in biological fluids.

A rapid and sensitive method for the measurement of nicotine in plasma, urine, saliva and breast milk is described. An internal standard (quinoline) is added to the samples and these are made alkaline and extracted with diethyl ether. The solvent is evaporated to small bulk and extracted with dilute acid which is then made alkaline. The nicotine is finally extracted into butyl acetate and an aliquot of this extract is injected onto a gas-chromatograph fitted with a nitrogen detector. Quantitation relies on comparison of peak areas and the calibration curve is linear over the concentration range 0.5 to 100 ng ml-1. Nicotine concentrations as low as 0.1 ng ml-1 can be measured. In addition, a micro-method is described which requires only 100 microliter of sample and yields an accurate result in 5 min.

Chromatography, Gas↗
PubMed1978

The BSRI M, F, and androgyny scores are bipolar.

Demonstrates that the Bem Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) masculinity (M), femininity (F), and Androgyny scores reflect a bipolar dimension rather than two independent dimensions and their unique derivative. The mean endorsement of the BSRI M and F items was calculated for 50 males and 50 females separately and as a combined group. The BSRI M and F items then were scored in a bipolar fashion. A total Bipolar Androgyny score was calculated for each S by summing the S's Bipolar Androgyny scores on the M and F items. The data indicated that (1) Bem's M scores and the derived Bipolar Androgyny scores based on Bem's M items were highly correlated (congruent to .90); (2) Bem's F scores and the Bipolar Androgyny scores based on Bem's F items were highly correlated (congruent to .90); and (3) Bem's Androgyny scores and the total Bipolar Androgyny scores were highly correlated (congruent to .90). These results indicate that the BSRI Androgyny score reflects a bipolar dimension.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Further evidence that M-F is bipolar and multidimensional.

Conducted a study to identify a set of cognitive skills tests on which there are significant sex differences. The main study determined the comparability of several bipolar M-F scales and the relations between the full range of scores on each of those bipolar M-F scales and self-rated sexual orientation; 110 females and 113 males completed six cognitive tests, the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI), the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the Kinsey Sexual Orientation scale (KSO). Correlations in the combined-sex group were substantially higher than in either of the single-sex groups. Each of the several M-F measures was related significantly to sexual orientation in the combined-sex group, and the combination of the MMPI Mf scale and the Bem Androgyny Score accounted for a small but significantly greater portion of the variance in self-rated sexual orientation than did the MMPI Mf scale alone. The data support the view that M-F may be considered to be a bipolar and probably multidimensional variable.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Adjustment of smokers to dilution of tobacco smoke by ventilated cigarette holders.

This study was designed to examine the extent to which smokers would compensate for the dilution of smoke produced by ventilated cigarette holders. Peak plasma nicotine and carboxyhemoglobin levels were measured in 18 smokers when they had been smoking normally and when they had been using holders which dilute the smoke by about 20% (holder 1) and 60% (holder 2) for periods of 2 days and 7 days. Comparison of the observed blood levels with the "expected" levels estimated from the dilution factors of the holders showed that subjects partially compensated on holder 2 but showed little or no compensation on holder 1. There were no changes in the number of cigarettes smoked when using the holders so any compensation achieved must have been due to increasing the intake from each cigarette. There was wide individual variation in the amount of compensation with about 50% of subjects compensating fairly consistently on both holders. Degree of compensation was not significantly associated with usual cigarette consumption, plasma nicotine and carboxyhemoglobin levels when smoking without a holder, the nicotine yields of the subjects' cigarettes, or the experience of withdrawal symptoms and the degree of satisfaction when using the holders. It cannot be determined from this study whether the compensation observed was mediated by a need to regulate the intake of nicotine rather than some other factor.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Nicotine chewing gum as a substitute for smoking.

The capacity of nicotine-containing chewing gum to produce plasma nicotine levels comparable to heavy cigarette smoking was tested in 21 subjects. On a fixed schedule of one piece of gum (4 mg nicotine) per hour, the average peak plasma nicotine concentration was 175-7 nmol/l (28-5 ng/ml) compared to 189-3 nmol/l (30-7 ng/ml) obtained from normal ad libitum smoking. Unpleasant side effects were common and in some cases plasma nicotine concentrations were two and even three times as high as with smoking; The chewing gum provided some satisfaction to all but four subjects, but its degree was not related to the concentration of plasma nicotine it produced, neither was there an inverse relation between the plasma nicotine concentration while taking the gum and the subjective sense of missing cigarettesmthis suggests that the capacity of the gum to act as a substitute for smoking is not necessarily related to its capacity to provide nicotine. Flexible dosage dictated by individual needs would probably lower the incidence of side effects and might secure closer approximation to smoking concentrations of plasma nicotine.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Is nicotine important to tobacco smoking?

Tobacco smoking is generally regarded as a form of nicotine dependence, but the evidence for this is slender. Two experiments are described here which examine the hypothesis that habitual smokers need nicotine and that they regulate their intakes of this drug. A laboratory test for smoking was devised which permitted the continuous monitoring of puffing as well as of selected physiologic variables; the procedure was also designed to reduce the influence of smoking habits and rituals. In the first experiment, inhaled amounts of tobacco smoke reduced subsequent ad libitum smoking in a dose-related way. In the second experiment comparable doses of nicotine were given intravenously to the same subjects, but they failed to affect ongoing smoking. However, both the inhaled and intravenous doses of the drug produced very similar physiologic effects. These experiments do not, therefore, support the nicotine-dependence hypothesis; thus the ways, if any, in which this drug sustains the tobacco-smoking habit merit further examination.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Sudden infant death due to congenital adrenal hypoplasia.

Adrenocortical hypoplasia was found to be the cause of sudden death in a 9-month-old infant. Most sudden infant deaths in the first year of life are related to the sudden infant death syndrome, in which no specific pathologic changes are found at autopsy. Although specific causes for sudden death in infancy are well documented, adrenocortical hypoplasia is not a well-recognized cause of sudden infant death.

Adrenal Glands↗
PubMed1976

Effect of nicotine chewing gum on smoking behaviour and as an aid to cigarette withdrawal.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial the effect of 2-mg nicotine chewing gum was studied in 43 smokers when they were smoking as inclined and when they were trying to stop smoking. Although 70% of the smokers stopped smoking during treatment, only 23% were still abstinent after one year. The effect of the nicotine, though significant, was small compared with the overall reduction in smoking. When the subjects were smoking as inclined cigarette consumption was reduced by an average of 37% on the nicotine gum compared with 31% on placebo gum, while avergage carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) levels were reduced by 26% and 15% on the active and placebo gums respectively. When subjects tried to stop smoking there was a further considerable reduction in cigarette consumption, but no longer any difference between the two gums. Nevertheless, average COHb was still lower on the active gum. Plasma nicotine levels on the nicotine gum averaged only 10-7 ng/ml compared with 27-4 ng/ml after smoking. Better results could be expected with 4-mg nicotine gums.

Adult↗