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Biomedical subjects

P Long

Publications and source records attributed to P Long.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Conditioned taste aversions and latent inhibition in Egyptian spiny mice and Long-Evans rats.

The acquisition and extinction of a conditioned taste aversion in Egyptian spiny mice and Long-Evans rats was compared during 20 posttest sessions using a cross-over design and double-blind control procedures. Spiny mice preexposed to a sucrose CS demonstrated more latent inhibition and a faster rate of extinction than did Long-Evans rats preexposed to the same CS. Preference indices did not differ between control animals or as a function of gender. The present results are the first report of the effects of latent inhibition on learning taste aversion in Egyptian spiny mice.

Animals

Does parent training with young noncompliant children have long-term effects?

The current study was a long-term follow-up (approx. 14 yr following treatment) of 26 late adolescents/young adults (17 yr and older) who had participated in parent training with their mothers when they were young (2-7 yr old) noncompliant children. Parent training, consisting of teaching mothers to use attends and rewards for appropriate behavior, clear commands and time-out, had reduced deviant behavior and increased compliance immediately following treatment. At this follow-up, these individuals were compared to a matched community sample on various measures of delinquency, emotional adjustment, academic progress and relationship with parents. No differences emerged between the two groups on any of the measures, suggesting that noncompliant children who participated in parent training during their early years are functioning as well as nonclinic individuals as they move into adulthood.

Adult

Cytogenetic and FISH analysis of endometrial carcinoma.

Endometrial cancer is a common gynecologic tumor, yet reports of cytogenetic studies are few. We studied chromosomes from seven primary specimens of endometrial cancer. Six had abnormal chromosomes; five had a diploid-hyperdiploid modal number and one was triploid. One specimen had a normal karyotype. Chromosome 1 was frequently involved in abnormalities (five tumors) with i(1q) in two tumors, and one tumor each had der(7)t(1;7)(q12;p11) and +add (1)(p13). One additional tumor had trisomy 1 in the single cell which could be fully analyzed. Trisomy 7 was noted in two tumors, and trisomy 10 in one. Because trisomies of these chromosomes have been reported in other cases of endometrial cancer, we used fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with centromere probes to determine the prevalence of trisomies 7 and 10 in these specimens. No additional tumors were found to have trisomies 7 or 10 by FISH. Our data, in combination with published literature, suggest that additional copies of 1q or portions of 1q constitute the primary change in this tumor. Extra copies of genes in this region may play an important role in tumorigenesis in endometrial carcinoma.

Aged

Signal-detection analysis of the Müller-Lyer and the Horizontal-Vertical illusions.

Perceptual error in the Müller-Lyer and the Horizontal-Vertical illusions was quantified using nonparametric signal-detection measures of sensitivity and response bias. Sensitivity scores were positively related to signal strength with the greatest values observed for the strongest signals. Sensitivity at each signal strength did not differ between the two illusions. Response-bias scores were inversely related to signal strength, with the most conservative biases observed for the strongest signals. Response biases for each signal strength were significantly more conservative for the Horizontal-Vertical than for the Müller-Lyer illusion.

Adult

[Effects of methylflavonolamine hydrochloride on tension and cAMP of isolated guinea pig trachea].

Effects of methylflavonolamine (4'-methyl-7-(2-hydroxy-3-isopropylaminopropoxy)-flavone hydrochloride, MFA) on the tension and cAMP content of isolated guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle strips were studied. MFA (0.03-0.6 mmol.L-1) dose-dependently reduced KCl, acetylcholine (ACh) and histamine (Hist)-induced contractions with intracellular increase in cyclic AMP. The reduction in contraction and increase in cAMP were well correlated positively. MFA (0.03 mmol.L-1) showed synergism with isoprenaline (Iso) and aminophylline (Ami) in bronchodilation. The synergism with Iso but not Ami was accompanied by an increase in cAMP levels. It is suggested that the MFA-induced bronchodilation is related to the increase in intracellular cAMP level. The calcium antagonistic effect may be involved in MFA-induced bronchodilation.

Aminophylline

Cytogenetic analysis of intestinal polyps in polyposis syndromes: comparison with sporadic colorectal adenomas.

Few cytogenetic studies of polyps from patients with polyposis syndromes have been reported. We studied 27 colonic adenomatous polyps from familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), two polyps of the small bowel from Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS), and four colorectal juvenile polyps from juvenile polyposis syndrome (JPS). The karyotypic results were compared with 32 sporadic colorectal adenomatous polyps. Nineteen colorectal adenomas had abnormal karyotypes; of these, five were from patients with FAP and 14 were sporadic adenomas. Numerical changes were the most frequent change (14 adenomas); additional copies of chromosome 7 (eight adenomas) and 13 (seven adenomas) occurred most often and were present in both FAP and sporadic adenomas. Only five adenomas, all sporadic, had structural chromosome abnormalities. Normal karyotypes were obtained from 32 adenomas, and chromosome counts but not karyotypes were obtained from eight polyps owing to poor chromosome morphology. The JPS and PJS polyps had normal karyotypes. These data indicate that adenomas from patients with FAP tend to have fewer structural abnormalities than sporadic adenomas and that numerical abnormalities are the most common chromosome abnormality in both FAP and sporadic polyps and suggest that the mechanism which causes loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the adenoma to carcinoma sequence operates on a level below that of the whole chromosome.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli

Bar-code technology applied to drug-use evaluation.

Bar-code technology was used to determine: (1) patterns in histamine H2-receptor antagonist use and (2) the occurrence of adverse drug effects and drug interactions associated with the use of these agents in critically ill patients. Patients at Henry Ford Hospital (Detroit) receiving histamine H2-receptor antagonists over a two-month period were evaluated. Clinical information was collected in the intensive care units by using a bar-code system. The data-capture menu was based on drug-use-evaluation criteria for H2-receptor antagonists. Data collected in the scanning wands were uploaded into a computer database and were analyzed at the end of the study. Data were collected for 207 patients. Cimetidine was the predominant H2-receptor antagonist used, and the predominant indication was stress-ulcer prophylaxis. Dosing trends followed accepted guidelines for cimetidine dosage adjustment in renal and hepatic failure. Two drug interactions and six adverse drug reactions occurred. Pharmacists made 92 recommendations to the medical staff regarding modification in therapy, involving 32% of the patients. Data collection required an average of 10 minutes per day each for three pharmacists. H2-receptor antagonist use patterns were evaluated in intensive care units through the application of bar-code technology. The speed and efficiency of this automated tool facilitated collection of a large amount of data.

Clinical Pharmacy Information Systems

Alcohol education as primary prevention in health care.

The purpose of this survey research was to identify practicing nurses' knowledge about the biophysiological and psychosocial components of alcohol and its pharmacological effects. Additionally, data were gathered with the intent of assisting nurses in the early identification of and intervention with individuals at risk for the disease of alcoholism. The study consisted of a convenience sample of 298 practicing nurses employed by community hospitals that had been identified as having no specific treatment program for chemical dependency. The investigation obtained self-reported information by means of a questionnaire. The instrument elicited both demographics and the answers to 25 fixed alternative questions designed to obtain information in nine topic areas. Findings indicated that 66% of the nurses incorrectly answered questions aimed at correlating population statistics to the disease of alcoholism and its physiological effects. Questions about knowledge of the pharmacological properties of alcohol were answered incorrectly by 93% of the participants. One-way analysis of variance was computed to compare the total score for each of the variables listed. Conclusions document a critical need for increased alcohol education in basic nursing programs. Content related to the pharmacological properties, the disease concept and the biophysiological and psychosocial effects of alcohol should be included in curriculum design.

Adult

[Effects of methylflavonolamine hydrochloride on contractility of isolated rabbit ileum].

Methylflavonolamine hydrochloride (MFA), verapamil (Ver), and trifluoperazine (Tri) inhibited the contractions induced by submaximal concentrations of acetylcholine (ACh) and serotonin (5-HT). IC50 values (mumol.L-1) were 33.2 +/- 0.7, 0.276 +/- 0.018, 3.83 +/- 0.23, and 15.31 +/- 0.10, 0.233 +/- 0.017, 2.33 +/- 0.20, respectively. MFA, Ver, and Tri inhibited the contractions induced by CaCl2 and pD'2 values were 4.3 +/- 0.3, 6.23 +/- 0.22, 4.99 +/- 0.24, respectively. MFA 3 mumol.L-1, Ver 0.03 mumol.L-1, and Tri 3 mumol.L-1 inhibited the contractions induced by ACh in Ca(2+)-free medium, while MFA 60 mumol.L-1, Tri 30 mumol.L-1, but not Ver 0.6 mumol.L-1, had pronounced inhibitions on extracellular calcium-dependent contractions induced by ACh. These results suggest that MFA has a calcium antagonistic effect and that MFA is similar to Tri, but not Ver, in mechanism.

Animals

Erythrocyte dyscrasia, anemia, and hypothyroidism in chronically underweight llamas.

A syndrome characterized by anemia, erythrocyte dyscrasia, low body weight, and hypothyroidism was observed in 8 llamas (Lama glama). At initial examination (1 to 23 months of age; median, 7.5 months), llamas (3 males, 5 females) were markedly underweight (29 to 55 kg; median, 36 kg) and anemic (PCV, 12.9 to 25.5% [median, 19%]). Five of the llamas became progressively more anemic over time; in 2 of them, PCV decreased to less than 10%. Erythrocyte changes included severe poikilocytosis, anisocytosis, asymmetric distribution of hemoglobin within the cytoplasm, and cytoplasmic extensions from one or both poles. Six llamas had moderate to severe valgus deformities of the carpus. All llamas had low baseline serum thyroxine concentration and diminished response to thyrotropin administration. Baseline and post-thyrotropin triiodothyronine concentrations did not have consistent patterns. Five llamas were hypophosphatemic and 7 had low serum iron concentration (iron concentration was not determined in 1 llama). Orally administered iron supplementation did not induce clinical improvement. Because 3 of the affected llamas were full sisters, a genetic basis for the problem has to be considered. It was not possible to evaluate the familial relationship of the other 5 affected llamas. Although the underlying cause of the problem was not established, the prognosis for affected llamas is guarded to poor.

Anemia

Bleeding and the third stage of labor.

The third stage of labor often is scarcely considered by parturients and birth attendants although it is thought to be the most dangerous stage of labor because of the risk of significant hemorrhage. Safe clinical management based on respect and understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the third stage of labor may prevent many complications. Management of third stage labor is presented. Uterotonic agents and techniques for control of bleeding are discussed.

Clinical Protocols

Inclusion of alcoholism and drug abuse content in curricula of varied health care professions.

Alcoholism and drug abuse are prevalent health problems in the United States. Practitioners in nursing, medicine, and dentistry need to be cognizant of the insidious signs of chemical dependency. A descriptive survey using a researcher-designed questionnaire yielded a sample which consisted of 11 medical schools, 2 dental schools, 25 baccalaureate and higher degree nursing programs, and 38 associate degree nursing programs. The survey findings indicated that the curricula for nursing, medicine, and dentistry were inadequate in chemical dependency content. This survey evidenced the need for a stronger educational effort addressing both knowledge of alcoholism/drug abuse and impaired professional practice in the curricula of the health professional programs examined.

Alcoholism

Llama herd health.

Herd health programs for llama owners offer veterinarians the opportunity to provide preventive care to an expanding market. Some aspects of llama herd health programs are unique but should be based on herd health principles used for other livestock species. Vaccinations, parasite control, nutritional consultation and reproductive examinations, coupled with feet and teeth care, are some areas to cover in herd health programs. Each herd will have slightly different requirements and the program should be tailored to the goals of the producer.

Animal Husbandry

Facilitating adherence to ACS and NCI guidelines for breast cancer screening.

1. Measures are needed to increase awareness of the incidence of breast cancer, and perhaps to increase the perception of susceptibility to breast cancer among all women. 2. Common reasons for noncompliance with the established guidelines include: fear of the carcinogenic effect of radiation, unfamiliarity with the guidelines, belief that mammography is ineffective, or fear that detection will necessitate mastectomy. 3. While cost, accessibility, and availability are critically important in enhancing public compliance, professional health care providers have a tremendous burden to obtain current information regarding the breast screening guidelines, and communicate the information to the public. 4. By helping to establish accessible and affordable breast screening programs, nurses have an excellent opportunity to play a role in the reduction of morbidity and mortality associated with breast cancer.

American Cancer Society