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M Garland

Publications and source records attributed to M Garland.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Prospective study of toenail selenium levels and cancer among women.

BACKGROUND: Inverse associations between selenium status and cancer risk have been observed in animal studies, ecologic studies, and some case-control and prospective studies. Whereas results of some prospective studies have suggested an overall inverse relationship between selenium levels and cancer, other prospective studies have failed to confirm this finding. Prospective data on women are particularly limited because fewer women than men have been studied prospectively. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to prospectively examine the relationship between selenium levels in toenails (previously shown to reflect selenium intake) and incidence of cancer among women. METHODS: The Nurses' Health Study cohort began in 1976 with 121,700 female nurses aged 30-55 years living in 11 U.S. states. In 1982, we requested toenail clippings from the members of the cohort, and 62,641 participants with no history of cancer returned these clippings. During 41 months of follow-up, 503 cases of cancer other than breast cancer (results previously reported) or nonmelanoma skin cancer were analyzed. For each case patient, a control subject was chosen from women who remained free of diagnosed cancer, matched by age and by date of nail return. RESULTS: No inverse association was observed between selenium levels in toenails and cancer risk. The age- and smoking-adjusted relative risk (RR), comparing the highest with the lowest quintile of toenail selenium level, was 1.44 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.97-2.13), and the trend across quintiles was marginally significant (two-sided P = .06). Comparing the highest with the lowest decile, the RR (age- and smoking-adjusted) was 1.77 (95% CI = 1.04-3.02). When these data were combined with the data from 434 breast cancer case patients and their matched control subjects identified in parallel from this same cohort, the RR comparing the highest with the lowest quintile was 1.24 (95% CI = 0.93-1.65). Toenail selenium level was not inversely associated with cancer at any major site, including uterine cancer, colorectal cancer, melanoma, ovarian cancer, or lung cancer (after adjusting for smoking); in fact, nonsignificant positive associations were observed at several sites. CONCLUSIONS: Toenail selenium levels were not inversely associated with cancer risk in this study. IMPLICATIONS: These data, in conjunction with previous findings of no association between toenail selenium status and breast cancer risk, strongly suggest that higher selenium intake within the range consumed by most U.S. women (as reflected by toenail selenium levels) is not protective against overall cancer incidence in women.

Adult

Fetal hiccups in the baboon.

Bouts of hiccuping are recognized by pregnant women as distinct episodic movements of their fetuses. Ultrasound imaging of these fetuses has documented the occurrence of hiccups from early gestation through parturition. This study provides a systematic characterization of prenatal hiccuping in the fetal baboon (Papio species). Tracheal fluid pressure was recorded from 11 chronically instrumented fetal baboons for 21.5 +/- 7.3 consecutive days (mean +/- SD) over a range in gestation from 124 to 164 days (term 175 days). In an initial review of pressure recordings by visual inspection, hiccups were recognized as distinctive high-amplitude fluctuations in tracheal pressure that were readily discriminated from fetal breaths. Automated techniques were then developed and validated to detect hiccups and summarize their features. The mean hiccup amplitude was 23.0 +/- 3.1 mmHg, inspiratory time was 0.26 +/- 0.03 s, and expiratory time was 0.27 +/- 0.02 s. Each of these features discriminated hiccups from breaths (P < 0.001). Hiccuping incidence (1.8 +/- 0.4% of time), rate (26.2 +/- 6.2 min-1), bout duration (4.3 +/- 0.8 min), and the interval between bouts (3.35 +/- 0.60 h) were also different (P < 0.01) from breathing. These features of hiccups remained relatively constant over the latter third of gestation with the exception of an increase in duration of the expiratory time interval (r = 0.54, P < 0.01). Despite their vigorous nature, bouts of hiccuping were not associated with transitions in behavioral state. Moreover, the features of hiccups were not differentiated by state. Bouts of hiccuping recurred in a cyclic fashion, on average every 3-4 h.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals

Localization and characterization of binding sites with high affinity for [3H]ouabain in cerebral cortex of rabbit brain using quantitative autoradiography.

[3H]Ouabain binding was studied in sections of rabbit somatosensory cortex by quantitative autoradiography and in rabbit brain microsomal membranes using a conventional filtration assay. KD values of 8-12 nM for specific high-affinity binding of [3H]ouabain were found by both methods. High-affinity binding was not uniformly distributed in somatosensory cortex and was localized predominantly to laminae 1, 3, and 4. [3H]Ouabain binding in tissue sections was stimulated by the ligands Mg2+/Pi or Mg2+/ATP/Na+ and was inhibited by K+ (IC50 = 0.7-0.9 mM), N-ethylmaleimide, 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), and erythrosin B. We conclude that [3H]ouabain is reversibly and specifically bound with high affinity in rabbit brain tissue sections under conditions that favor phosphorylation of Na+,K+-ATPase. Quantitative autoradiography is a powerful tool for assessing the affinity and number of specific ouabain binding sites in brain tissue.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Suckling stimulation modulates the maintenance of postpartum aggression in mice.

Previous work in female mice has shown that suckling stimulation is essential for the initiation of male-directed aggression during the immediate postpartum period. The present work examined the importance of this stimulus for the maintenance of aggression during lactation. Surgical excision of nipples (thelectomy) on Postpartum Day 5 accelerates the decline in aggression that ordinarily occurs during the final third of lactation (Postpartum Days 15-21), but does not disrupt the behavior during the middle third of lactation (Postpartum Days 6-12). Thus, both the initiation of aggression during the early postpartum period and the maintenance of the behavior during late lactation are controlled by suckling from young.

Aggression

The efficacy of 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C, and methyl CCNU in advanced colorectal cancer.

Sixty-six patients with advanced colorectal cancer were treated with 5-fluorouracil, Mitomycin C, and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea. Fifty-seven patients were evaluable by completing 2 months of therapy. Nine patients (16.0%) achieved a complete remission (CR) with the above combination. A partial remission (PR) was seen in 9 patients. The response rate (CR + PR) was 32%. The average duration of response was 8.5 months. Mucositis, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia were the significant toxicities experienced in this study.

Adult

The efficacy of 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C, and methyl CCNU in advanced gastrointestinal malignancy.

50 patients with advanced gastrointestinal malignancies were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5FU), 1-(2-chloroethyl)3-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea (MeCCNU) and mitomycin C (Mito C). 43 patients, with diagnoses of colorectal, pancreatic or gastric cancer, were evaluable. 13 patients (30%) achieved complete remissions, and 4 achieved partial remissions. The median durations of responses in colorectal, pancreatic and gastric disease were 11.0, 11.0, and 11.5 months, respectively. Survival was definitely prolonged in responding patients with pancreatic and gastric carcinomas. The combination was well tolerated. Mucositis, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia were the major toxicities that occurred. The quality of life was improved in all responding patients.

Adenocarcinoma

Plasma and salivary concentrations of erythromycin after administration of three different formulations.

In a 6-volunteer cross-over study the pharmacokinetics of 3 erythromycin preparations were compared. A single oral dose of 500 mg of each preparation was administered at each occasion and the levels measured in timed samples of plasma and saliva. Markedly higher blood concentrations of the estolate and propionate were obtained compared to the stearate. Comparison of serum and plasma concentration of the drugs from each split sample showed no significant differences. Plasma concentrations always exceeded those in saliva but for any one preparation a similar ratio was obtained at different times. This may be useful to ascertain compliance and to measure concentration of the compounds where direct measurement in plasma is not practicable.

Adult

New territory.

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Camping