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Biomedical subjects

R Hamer

Publications and source records attributed to R Hamer.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Murine erythrocytes contain high levels of lysophospholipase activity.

Murine erythrocytes were found to be unique in the high levels of lysophospholipase activity in the cytosol of these cells. The specific activity of the enzyme in the cytosol of the murine cells is 10-times higher than in the cytosol of rabbit erythrocytes and approximately three orders of magnitude higher than those in the red cells of rat, man, pig and ox.

Animals↗

Retropharyngeal abscess.

Two cases of retropharyngeal abscess are presented. The first case, that of a 4-year-old boy, was classical, diagnosed early, and treated with prompt incision and drainage. The second case was that of a 51-year-old man who developed complete upper airway obstruction, pneumothorax, and congestive heart failure prior to surgical drainage. These cases are presented to remind emergency physicians of this formidable entity and of the need for constant vigil in the management of this life-threatening pre-antibiotic relic.

Abscess↗

Inadvertent intra-arterial injection of phentaramine: a complication of drug abuse.

A female drug abuser inadvertently injected an intravenous injection of an oral anorexiant, phentaramine (Preludin), into her own brachial artery. Severe hand pain, vasospasm, and ischemia occurred. Treatment with regional axillary block, intravenous dextran, intra-arterial priscoline, and salicylate anticoagulation may have influenced a favorable outcome. Intimal damage, vasospasm, and various additive effects after intra-arterial injection contribute to the potential for serious sequelae. Prompt diagnosis, vasodilatation, elevation and compression, pain relief and, in some cases, surgery appear to improve salvage of what is frequently a major extremity injury.

Adult↗

Behavioral task-induced bronchodilation in asthma during active and passive tasks: a possible cholinergic link to psychologically induced airway changes.

This study investigated pulmonary and autonomic reactions to active and passive behavioral laboratory tasks among asthmatic subjects. It also examined the relationship between airway irritability, as measured by the methacholine challenge test (MCT), and autonomic activity and reactivity to these tasks. Fifty-one asthmatic and 37 nonasthmatic subjects were exposed to psychological laboratory tasks involving either active (mental arithmetic and reaction time) or passive (films depicting shop accidents and thoracic surgery) response. The MCT was given to asthmatics in a separate session. Active tasks reduced respiratory impedance, as measured by forced oscillation pneumography. They also increased heart rate and appeared to block vagal activity, as measured by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA). Airway irritability as assessed by the MCT was positively related to amplitude of RSA and to skin conductance levels. Our data suggest that active and passive behavioral tasks may produce different pulmonary effects among both asthmatic and nonasthmatic individuals. Engaging in tasks requiring active responses may produce temporary improvements in pulmonary function. No autonomic differences were obtained between asthmatics and nonasthmatics in physiological response to stress, but greater cholinergic receptor sensitivity was suggested among high responders to methacholine.

Adolescent↗

Psychopathology in medical inpatients and its relationship to length of hospital stay: a pilot study.

A composite screening instrument measuring depression, anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, and pain identified 40 percent of a sample of general medical inpatients (30% of total patients before exclusions) as having significant psychopathology or pain, a reasonable number based on clinical incidence literature. These identified patients' hospital length of stay did not differ from the length of stay for other patients. The screen identified 21 percent as very depressed, 19 percent as very anxious, 15 percent as having cognitive dysfunction, and 11 percent with high pain levels. Depression, anxiety, and pain frequently occurred together. Further study is required to refine the instrument and assess its effectiveness at targeting patients for psychiatric intervention.

Anxiety Disorders↗