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M Hilton

Publications and source records attributed to M Hilton.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

The relationship between stressful working conditions and high alcohol consumption and severe alcohol problems in an urban general population.

The relationship between 15 measures of stressful working conditions and high alcohol consumption (35 g 100% ethanol per day or more for men and 25 g or more for women) was studied, using cross-sectional data from a general population survey of 1344 males and 1494 females; the ages 25-64 years in metropolitan Stockholm in 1984. In a longitudinal component of the study, hospitalization and mortality with alcohol-related diagnosis was assessed during 1984-90, and also the association between previous experience of unemployment and high alcohol consumption. Some of the associations, expressed as age-adjusted odds ratios, were positive and some were negative when high alcohol consumption was the endpoint, but there was a clear variation by sex and social class. Generally the positive associations were stronger among male non-manual employees. Among males, there was a clear association between stressful working conditions and subsequent risk of severe medical alcohol-related problems, but the precision of the estimates was low due to low number of cases. The odds ratio was 6.18 (95% confidence interval 1.86, 20.61) for twisted working positions and 6.74 (95% confidence interval 1.67, 27.19). Previous unemployment among males was associated with increased risk for high alcohol consumption, with an odds ratio of 5.71 (95% CI 1.39, 15.97) among those who had been unemployed more than once, and 1.67 (95% CI 0.76, 3.64) among those who had been unemployed once during the previous 5 years. Those and other increased odds ratios were lower when subjects with an alcohol diagnosis at inpatient care during 1980-84 were excluded in the analyses. On the whole, our findings are not conclusive. The strong, but imprecise associations between stressful working conditions and severe alcohol problems, are however challenging, and warrants further studies, preferably with longitudinal design and repeated measurements of both working condition and alcohol habits.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Use of the stable peptide, gamma-L-glutamyl-L-tyrosine, as an intravenous source of tyrosine in mice.

The relative insolubility of tyrosine (Tyr) at neutral pH limits amounts of this amino acid in solutions used for total parenteral nutrition (TPN). We have tested the potential of the natural peptide, gamma-L-glutamyl-L-tyrosine (Glu(Tyr], to release Tyr in vivo by making 20-microL injections, containing 2.9 mumol Glu(Tyr) (approximately 80 mumol/kg body weight), into the external jugular veins of mice. Mean concentrations of Glu(Tyr) in plasma were 138.5 and 11.4 mumol/L after 10 and 60 minutes, respectively; plasma Tyr was significantly elevated at 10 minutes, but returned to control levels at 60 minutes. When 5.8 mumol of Glu(Tyr) was injected, levels of Glu(Tyr) and of Tyr were significantly higher at both 10 and minutes than when 2.9 mumol of peptide was injected. Animals showed no evidence of toxicity. Two percent or less of the peptide could be detected in the urine, even in mice injected with 5.8 mumol Glu(Tyr). Pretreatment of mice with acivicin, a potent inhibitor of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTase), prevented the increase in plasma Tyr seen after injection of 2.9 mumol Glu(Tyr) and led to higher levels of Glu(Tyr) in the plasma both at 10 and at 60 minutes than seen in mice given the same amount of Glu(Tyr) but no acivicin. The presence of the inhibitor also led to loss of as much as 48% of the administered peptide in the urine in 60 minutes. These data suggest that GGTase catalyzes hydrolysis of intravenous (IV) Glu(Tyr) to release Tyr in vivo. Glu(Tyr) in the blood is not partitioned into red blood cells; it remains in the plasma, available to GGTase, which functions at the external surface of cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1990

Molecular modelling studies on the binding of phenylurea inhibitors to the D 1 protein of photosystem II.

A hypothetical molecular model of part of the D 1 protein of photosystem II, based on the analogous portion of the L subunit of the Rhodopseudomonas viridis reaction centre, has been used to study the binding of an extended hydrophobic phenylurea inhibitor (N,N-dimethyl-carbamoyl)4-amino-4'-chloro-trans-stilbene) (I) to the QB site. The inhibitor was fitted by eye into a cleft in the site, and a limited part of the inhibitor/D 1 complex was energy minimized. The gross orientation of the inhibitor placed the dimethylurea moiety towards the predicted binding domain of the plastoquinone head group, and the stilbene moiety directed along the quinone isoprenoid side chain binding domain, suggesting a similar pathway of approach of the two molecules from the membrane into the binding site. Binding interactions of the inhibitor included hydrogen bonds to the side chain hydroxyl of ser 264 and the peptide carbonyl group of ala 251, with the side chain hydroxyl of ser 268 as an alternative ligand. Numerous hydrophobic contacts were also possible. Although phenylureas do not bind to reaction centres of Rp. viridis, many of the binding interactions to D 1 could also be detected in Rp. viridis. However, the beta-CH2, and delta-CO2- groups of glu 212 in Rp. viridis are located in the corresponding region of D 1 occupied by the dimethylurea moiety of the inhibitor in our model of its binding to D 1. This may explain why diuron (DCMU) does not bind to Rp. viridis reaction centres.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Multiple alcohol-related problems in the United States: on the rise?

Are drinking problems on the rise in the U.S. general population? Surveys of drinking practices and problems conducted in the United States in 1967, 1969, 1979 and 1984 included numerous questions on alcohol-related problems that were identical or nearly identical in wording. Using data from these surveys, we tested for ordered increases over time in the prevalence of an indicator of multiple problems, considered on both a current (1-year) and lifetime basis. We studied prevalence in men and women between the ages of 22 and 59 in all four surveys. Prevalence of the multiple problem indicator was rare, especially when considered on a current basis. However, relative increases in prevalence ranging from 53% to over 200% were found from 1967 to 1984 in the multiple problem indicator for men and women, for lifetime as well as current problems. With the exception of current problems in women (a very rare condition even in the 1984 survey), these changes were all statistically significant or showed a trend toward significance. When respondents were subgrouped by age, all subgroups still showed increases since 1967, although sample sizes decreased and significance tests of ordered increases over time were not so consistent.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Zidovudine therapy in an inner city population.

To determine the compliance and tolerance with zidovudine (azidothymidine or AZT) therapy among poor, minority, and intravenous drug-using patients, data were collected on all AIDS and ARC patients followed for at least 4 weeks in a New York City Human Immunodeficiency Virus clinic. Ninety-nine patients received zidovudine, of whom 75% were males, 92% were minorities, and 59% had a history of intravenous drug use. Of the 99 patients, 72 had AIDS and 27 had ARC with T-helper (CD4) lymphocytes less than or equal to 500 mm3. Eighty-seven of the 99 patients (88%) were compliant with zidovudine therapy. Fifty-seven percent of these had at least one adverse drug reaction requiring dose reduction (44%) or cessation (13%). Adverse reactions were similar to those reported in other populations with HIV-related illness, although headache and nausea were less common. Twenty opportunistic infections (OIs) or HIV-related malignancies occurred in 15 of 82 (18%) patients who were on zidovudine for at least 4 weeks (7.6 OIs/1,000 patient weeks). Seven of the 82 died (9%), compared to 9 of the 17 patients (53%) who did not complete 4 weeks of zidovudine therapy (p less than 0.05). There were no significant differences in any of these measures when intravenous drug users were compared with other risk groups. We conclude that zidovudine can be administered to intravenous drug users and others in an inner city clinic with acceptable compliance and tolerance.

AIDS-Related Complex↗