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Biomedical subjects

N Laor

Publications and source records attributed to N Laor.

14 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Platelet imipramine binding and plasma cortisol levels in Israeli civilians during the Gulf War.

[3H] Imipramine binding to platelets and plasma cortisol levels were measured in nine Israeli civilians before, during, and after repeated missile attacks. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were similar before and during the war and decreased significantly after the war. A trend toward increase in platelet imipramine binding values was observed during the war when compared with the postwar values (19%; p = 0.056), and/or when compared with prewar values (26%; p = 0.063). However, one-way analysis of variance with repeated measures did not reveal a significant statistical difference [F (2,6) = p = 2.07; NS] among the three time points. A significant correlation was found between HARS score, but not BDI, and imipramine binding values in the prewar and postwar time points (r = 0.87; 0.71, respectively). Plasma cortisol levels did not alter significantly during the study period.

Adjustment Disorders↗
PubMed1985

Prometheus the impostor.

The problem of scientific fraud has been used to indict the whole system of science. The response of the scientific community has been understandably heated but insufficient. The discussion seems to have reached an impasse as both parties in the dispute share mistaken views. A switch is needed to a framework in which the democratic foundation of the scientific society and the free spirit of scientific inquiry can be preserved.

Biomedical Research↗
PubMed1985

Psychoanalysis as science: the inductivist's resistance revisited.

The scientific status of psychoanalysis has been the focus of heated debates among philosophers of science and among psychoanalysts. The most recent challenge to psychoanalysis as a science comes from the quarters of the inductivist philosophy of science. Since inductivism is a self-defeating philosophy, it is not surprising that inductivists demand that psychoanalysts pay an unlimited price for their claim of scientific status for psychoanalysis. Most psychoanalysts, in their response to this impossible challenge, unwittingly claim to have paid the price. What is worse, the claim is made in a confused and emotionally charged manner. Hence, psychoanalysts are usually defensive and, thus, in error when repelling (in this way) the attack of the inductivist philosopher. It is not psychoanalysis inductivists attack, but their own commitment to their own logic which leads inexorably to the dissolution of their argument, of all science, and, indeed, of psychoanalysis as well. It seems much more reasonable to postpone any response to the challenges that confront psychoanalysis today and to invest effort in a reformulation of the problem of the scientific status of psychoanalysis. Different rational solutions to the problem may evolve if we take care to become well informed first about the limits of our theoretical frameworks and show readiness to change them, if and when needed. That is to say, we can start with a somewhat tentative, not to say skeptical, frame of mind concerning the very concept of scientific status. We may try to keep and to contain our skepticism to the degree required by the discourse at hand, carry on exploring in our practice, report our results, and discuss them respectfully. We should start by admitting that, quite possibly, our discourse will end inconclusively.

Generalization, Psychological↗
PubMed1978

Waardenburg syndrome with a fixed dilated pupil.

An unusual case of Waardenburg syndrome associated with a detailed and fixed pupil of the lighter eye is described. Pharmacological investigations were performed to localise the site of the pupillary lesion. A lack of cholinergic reactivity was demonstrated, possibly due to congenital agenesis of the sphincter pupillae. Sympathetic activity was not impaired. Spiral ganglion agenesis and midline congenital anomalies are common features in Waardenburg syndrome. These lesions as well as the fixed dilated pupil might be due to an embryonal inductive failure.

Abnormalities, Multiple↗
PubMed1977

A second conponent of atropine mydriasis.

A patient with Waardenburg syndrome had, in addition to the classical findings, a semidilated fixed pupil which did not react to changes of illumination, to convergence, or to pilocarpine of phospholine iodide. However, it responded normally to locally applied drugs acting on the sympathetic system. The pupil dilated after application of atropine, homatropine, or cocaine. The effect of cocaine, but not of atropine and homatropine, was prevented by pretreatment with guanethidine. It is concluded that the mydriasis caused by atropine and homatropine is partly dependent upon a direct action on the radial smooth muscle.

Atropine↗
PubMed1977

Sympathetic pupillary activity in infants.

In an attempt to learn the contribution of the sympathetic system to smaller pupillary size in infants, pupillary responses were tested to agents acting on this system in 12 ihfants and 23 young adults. Phenylephrine dilated the pupils of both groups by the same ratio, with infants' pupils reaching a lesser diameter. The responses to cocaine and hydroxyamphetamine were lower in children. It is concluded that in the first months of life the postganglionic sympathetic nerve releases less norepinephrine. This may be due to a lower number of sympathetic neurons. The post-synaptic apparatus may not be fully developed in infants.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1976

Sympathetic pupillary tone in old age.

In an attempt to determine whether autonomic neural factors might be involved in senile miosis, we tested pupillary responses to agents acting on the ocular sympathetic system in old subjects and compared them to responses in young adults. Our results suggest that sympathetic tone is decreased in the elderly. The dilator pupillae muscle does not lose its sensitivity to norepinephrine with age.

Adolescent↗