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Biomedical subjects

M C HARRIS

Publications and source records attributed to M C HARRIS.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1959

Serotonin; its possible relation to allergic disease.

Increased amounts of serotonin as well as histamine have been found in the blood of animals during anaphylactic shock. Certain animals, particularly those in which antihistamines do not prevent anaphylaxis, have been found to have increased quantities of serotonin in the lung tissue during anaphylactic shock. Serotonin is a chemical derived from the amino acid tryptophan, which is widely distributed. It is excreted in the urine as the metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Serotonin has been found in increased amounts in the blood of patients with carcinoids. The increase of serotonin in the blood and the finding of the excretory product in the urine has become a corroborative sign of the disease. The involvement of serotonin in the production of mental disease is evidenced by the effect of serotonin antagonists, which appear to influence mental behavior.That serotonin antagonists may be of ultimate value in the treatment of allergic disease is a possibility to be considered.

Allergens↗
PubMed1954

The practice of allergy.

Allergic disease has no one common denominator but may be due to various causes. Tests with allergenic substances are important but not infallible, and should not be the sole criteria of clinical sensitivity. They should not be employed indiscriminately. Much progress in utilizing all forms of modern medical treatment has been made. Finally, in treating patients with allergic disease, kindness and consideration remain the attributes that distinguish good allergists.

Allergens↗
PubMed1952

Evaluation of a new method of dust control.

Microscopic dust sampling was done to determine the amount of dust in the homes of six patients who were sensitive to house dust and who had allergic disease that was intractable to treatment. One case was subsequently excluded from the study because of extraordinary circumstances. The remaining five cases were studied with repeated dust counts before and after a water-and-oil emulsion was sprayed in the patient's bedroom to immobilize house dust. In all five cases, the patients had dramatic relief of symptoms after the spraying was done. In four out of five, there was concomitant reduction of the amount of dust in the air as determined by microscopic counting of the dust particles on a glycerincoated slide. In the fifth case, relief of symptoms was not accompanied by reduction of dust on slides, but investigation revealed an error in control of exposure of the slides.

Dust↗