PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Conlon

Publications and source records attributed to P Conlon.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Dance-based aerobic exercise for rheumatoid arthritis.

Reported here are the results of the first effort to examine the effects of a dance-based aerobic exercise program for people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Forty-three subjects with RA completed a 16-week program that met twice weekly for 2 hours. One hour was devoted to exercise consisting of 15 to 20 minutes of warm-ups, 20 to 30 minutes of dance-based aerobic exercise, and 15 to 20 minutes of mat work for muscle strengthening and flexibility. The second hour was devoted to discussion that emphasized participant problem solving. The combined exercise/problem-solving discussion program was called EDUCIZE. Analyses of pretest to posttest changes indicated no deleterious effects on disease activity. In fact, physician-assessed articular pain and swelling decreased significantly, as did 50-foot walk time, pain, and depression. Participants reported significant improvement in lower extremity function. Changes in vigor and fatigue approached significance. Perceptions of general health as well as four of five quality of life indices improved significantly. This study adds to the as yet limited literature that indicates that weight-bearing vigorous exercise is beneficial for people with arthritis. Controlled studies to validate the findings of this study appear warranted. Also important for future research is investigation of the influence of the problem-solving discussion component on program effects.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

A prospective study of psychosocial aspects of gastric stapling surgery.

Sixteen patients who underwent gastric stapling procedure for morbid obesity were assessed pre- and post-operatively on several psychosocial dimensions using a number of self-report questionnaires including the Eating Disorders Inventory, Locus of Control, and Millon's Clinical Multi-Axial Inventory. Subjects' responses to questions regarding their socialization, lifestyle and sexual relations were also compared for the two periods. The mean interval between surgery and completion of follow-up questionnaires was 13.6 months. Eighty-one percent of the patients showed an improvement in their psychosocial profile as measured by the MCMI. Although some residual difficulties were reported, generally patients were pleased with their physical appearance and experienced an improvement in current relationships and sexual functioning. Overall, the results indicate a favorable psychosocial outcome following gastric stapling surgery.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1989

Factors influencing medical students' intentions to choose psychiatry as a career.

Information was collected and analyzed to test a theoretical model of the interaction of previously reported correlates of intention to specialize in psychiatry. Ninety-nine first-year medical students completed a four-part questionnaire designed to demonstrate reasons for such an intention. The three main predictors of intention to specialize in this field were shown to be, in order: perception of others' views of a psychiatric career, students' attitude to psychiatry and their willingness to comply with the views of others. Although sociodemographic and personality characteristics also forecast intention to specialize in psychiatry, they did so only by operating through the three main predictors. The implications of these findings in relation to previous findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

Psychosocial considerations in gastric stapling surgery.

Thirty-one morbidly obese patients awaiting gastric stapling and 31 similar patients who had already undergone this procedure were evaluated using four psychological self-report questionnaires: Eating Disorder Inventory, Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, Locus of Control, and a questionnaire developed by the authors. The subjects were predominantly female, had a strong family history of obesity, and reported anxiety in the pathological range. The overall results suggest that, while not a panacea, gastric stapling does confer significant benefit to morbidly obese individuals.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The evaluation of a consultation-liaison service.

The demographics, referral patterns, and diagnoses of a psychiatric consultation-liaison service during a 1-year period are reported. A comparison with data from a similar evaluation of the same service 10 years previously showed stability in most variables. The data suggest that mere availability of a consultation-liaison service does not necessarily lead to increased utilization and highlights the need to forge specific links with other specialties. The use of DSM-III diagnoses in a consultation-liaison service is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Kluver Bucy syndrome with severe amnesia secondary to herpes encephalitis.

The authors present a case of Kluver Bucy syndrome with severe amnesia secondary to herpes encephalitis. The clinical features, neuropsychological test results and magnetic resonance images in this case also elucidate important aspects of limbic system pathology that are discussed in light of the literature.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Effect of infection with murine recombinant retroviruses containing the v-src oncogene on interleukin 2- and interleukin 3-dependent growth states.

The cloned murine interleukin 3 (IL 3)-dependent cell lines FD.C/1, 32Dc1-23, and KP3 can each be switched to interleukin 2 (IL 2)-dependent growth states. Replication-defective retroviral vectors have been used to introduce the v-src oncogene into each of these cell lines maintained in either an IL 3- or an IL 2-dependent growth state. These cell lines maintained in an IL 3-dependent growth state were converted to lymphokine-independent growth after infection with v-src. These same cells maintained in an IL 2-dependent growth state and infected with v-src maintained strict lymphokine dependence for growth. Another cloned murine IL 3-dependent cell line, GM, can be switched to a granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)-dependent growth state. GM cells maintained as IL 3- or GM-CSF-dependent cells readily converted to a lymphokine-independent growth state when infected with v-src. These experiments indicate that either there exist differences in the biochemical mechanisms of signal transduction through the IL 3- and IL 2-specific receptors, or developmental processes associated with the switching of cells to an IL 2-dependent growth state influence expression of the v-src gene product. These cell lines offer new ways not only for analyzing biochemical pathways that regulate cell growth, but also for analyzing the control of oncogene expression.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Tricyclic antidepressants in the treatment of cancer pain: a review.

The role of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) in the treatment of cancer pain is of growing interest. Various studies, all but one of them open, have suggested that TCAs are effective and safe in the treatment of pain caused by different types of cancer. The mechanisms of action by which TCAs decrease the pain perception are not fully clear. However, there are two main hypotheses. The first suggests that the drugs act primarily on the emotional component of pain, thus breaking the vicious circle of the perception of pain; the second suggests that the TCAs themselves have a specific analgesic action linked to a direct activity on the structures of the CNS. Further clinical studies, and in particular double-blind studies, are clearly necessary to provide more convincing and definitive results.

Analgesics↗
PubMed1987

Magnetic resonance imaging in psychiatry.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a relatively new radiological technique that may be useful in the study of psychiatric illness. MRI gives detailed structural information about the brain and also allows quantification of functional change. Current areas of study relevant to psychiatry include: schizophrenia, dementia, epilepsy and, to a lesser extent, alcohol and affective disorders. The authors review the basic principles of MRI, discuss the recent application to psychiatry, indicate its potential advantages and comment on the current limitations of this imaging modality.

Brain↗
PubMed1987

Personality patterns and duodenal ulcer relapse under antisecretory treatment.

The personality pattern of duodenal ulcer (DU) patients on maintenance treatment who relapsed (N = 22) was compared to a similar group who did not relapse (N = 57) using the Sixteen Personality Factors Questionnaire. Multivariate analysis of data indicated that a subgroup of DU patients with personality marked by dependent and anxiety traits was more prone to relapse of illness.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Purification to homogeneity of B cell stimulating factor. A molecule that stimulates proliferation of multiple lymphokine-dependent cell lines.

Murine B cell stimulating factor 1 (BSF-1) was purified to homogeneity from supernatants of a stimulated thymoma cell line. A protein of 18.4 kD with a unique N-terminal amino acid sequence was identified. BSF-1 had a sp act of at least 3.28 X 10(8) U/mg. In addition to its B cell-stimulatory activity, BSF-1 also stimulated the proliferation of several IL-2- and IL-3-dependent cell lines. We conclude that BSF-1 is both a growth factor and a differentiation factor. Finally, these results also suggest additional biologic properties of BSF-1 on lineages besides B lymphocytes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Personality pattern of patients with chronic gastric ulcer: a case control study.

Personality factors are thought to play a role in peptic ulcer disease. In this study the psychological profiles of chronic gastric ulcer (GU) patients (n = 28) were compared to matched controls (n = 28) using the Cattell Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire Form C. GU patients were characterized by traits of anxiety, dependence, introspection, trustfulness and adaptability. These findings are discussed in the light of the literature on personality and peptic ulcer disease.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Regulation of antibody production in vitro by granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor.

The precise molecular characteristics and the mode of action of the T cell derived lymphokines which augment antibody production in vitro remain uncertain. The use of ill-defined culture supernatants to dissect the cellular interactions in vitro involved in antibody production can lead to ambiguous results as the factors may act either on a contaminating non-B-lymphoid population or directly on the B lymphocyte. We report herein the development of a system for measuring in vitro primary antibody responses by murine spleen cells in which endogenous lymphokine production has been minimized by the in vivo administration of cytotoxic antibodies to deplete T lymphocytes and the addition of the glucocorticosteroid, dexamethasone, throughout the culture period. Using such an assay, a lymphokine activity was detected which was capable of augmenting the plaque forming cell response. This lymphokine was present in culture supernatant derived from the lectin activation of the T cell lymphoma, LBRM-33 and was distinct from other known B cell activators, notably IL-2 and IFN gamma. Biochemical purification of this activity indicated that it might be identical to granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The use of recombinant-derived GM-CSF protein unambiguously showed the role of this lymphokine in antibody production. These experiments demonstrated for the first time, the involvement of a hematopoietic factor in antigen-specific immune responses. Moreover, these results demonstrated an important regulatory circuit in the generation of antibody producing B cells in which GM-CSF, derived from activated T cells, stimulates macrophage function.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Biochemical comparison of murine colony-stimulating factors secreted by a T cell lymphoma and a myelomonocytic leukemia.

Factors that stimulate the proliferation and differentiation of murine bone marrow cells have been purified from a cloned T cell lymphoma, LBRM-33, and a cloned myelomonocytic leukemia cell line, WEHI-3. These colony-stimulating factors (CSF) have been purified by sequential fractionation by using salt precipitation, gel filtration, anion and cation exchange chromatography, and high pressure liquid chromatography. Both LBRM-33 and WEHI-3 cells secrete a CSF species with similar chemical and biologic properties. This CSF species appears to exist in two forms, termed CSF-2 alpha and CSF-2 beta, both of which stimulate the growth of bone marrow cells in the granulocyte, macrophage, megakaryocyte, mast cell, and erythrocyte lineages, as well as the growth of a CSF-dependent cell line, FDC-P2. These properties of CSF-2 alpha and -2 beta are similar to those reported for interleukin 3, hematopoietic cell growth factor, mast cell growth factor, and persisting cell growth factor. However, LBRM-33 cells secrete another CSF species, not produced by WEHI-3 cells. This CSF species, unique to LBRM cells, is termed here CSF-2 gamma and it stimulates the proliferation of granulocytes and macrophages from bone marrow but does not support the growth of FDC-P2 cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Serological visualization of interleukin 2.

Interleukin 2, a lymphokine that acts as a second signal of cellular immune response by way of its action as a T-cell growth factor, was morphologically identified by immunoperoxidase staining. With the use of a monoclonal antibody to interleukin 2 and several complex-forming antisera, the lymphokine was readily distinguished in cytocentrifuge preparations of peripheral blood leukocytes stimulated with a T-cell mitogen. When preparations of cloned interleukin 2 producer and responder cells were stained by the same procedures, discrete patterns of both responder and producer cell phenotypes were revealed. Interleukin 2 producer T cells exhibited a characteristic intense, ringlike cytoplasmic staining, whereas the responder cells (as exemplified by interleukin 2-dependent cell lines) exhibited a less intensive, spotlike membrane staining. In addition, intense membrane localization of interleukin 2, reminiscent of potential capping phenomena, could be observed in stained preparations of cloned responder cells.

Animals↗