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Biomedical subjects

S Benjamin

Publications and source records attributed to S Benjamin.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Effect of hypothyroidism on the expression of three microtubule-associated proteins (1A, 1B and 2) in developing rat cerebellum.

The microtubule-associated proteins 1A, 1B and 2 are present at high levels in Purkinje cell dendrites of normal adult rat cerebellum but show characteristic changes in localization during cerebellar development that allow examination of the effects of hypothyroidism on the development of both Purkinje cells and granule cells. Neonatal rats were made hypothyroid by treatment with propylthiouracil from the day of birth (post-natal day 0, P0). The expression of the microtubule-associated proteins 1A, 1B and 2 in the cerebellum of hypothyroid animals was examined using immunocytochemical techniques and compared to the normal developmental pattern in control animals. The normal developmental decrease in microtubule-associated protein 1A and 1B levels in parallel fibres was delayed in the cerebellum of hypothyroid animals and these proteins persisted in parallel fibres until after P20. Microtubule-associated protein 1B but not 1A was still present in parallel fibres in less mature folia at P30 in hypothyroid rats suggesting that the expression of these two microtubule-associated proteins is regulated separately. In the molecular layer staining with anti-microtubule-associated protein 2 was enriched in Purkinje cell dendrites in normal and hypothyroid cerebella and the stained Purkinje cell dendrites in hypothyroid cerebellum demonstrated a typical deformed morphology at P15. The results show that the restricted subcellular localization of these microtubule-associated proteins is maintained in the cerebellum of hypothyroid rats but the developmental changes in their expression are delayed.

Aging↗
PubMed1988

Anorectal contractility under basal conditions and during rectal infusion of saline in ulcerative colitis.

Pressure activity in the rectum and anal canal was measured with a multilumen probe in 29 patients with ulcerative colitis (12 active, 11 quiescent, six studied during both phases) and 18 normal controls under resting conditions and during rectal infusion of saline. Resting motor activity was significantly decreased in patients with active colitis compared with quiescent colitis (p less than 0.005) and normal controls (p less than 0.001). Forty per cent of active colitics showed a featureless record compared with only one patient with quiescent colitis and one normal subject. The volume of saline infused before leakage occurred, and the total volume retained were significantly lower (p less than 0.001) in patients with active and quiescent colitis compared with normal controls. Rectal infusion of saline provoked regular rectal contractions, of significantly higher (p less than 0.05) amplitude in patients with active colitis, than in quiescent colitis or controls. These rectal contractions were associated with simultaneous anal relaxations. During saline infusion, peak and pressures were lower in patients with ulcerative colitis than in normal subjects, but there were no significant differences in relaxation pressures. In normal subjects, the rectal pressures remained below the anal pressures throughout the saline infusion. Peak rectal pressures exceeded the anal relaxation pressures during the last five minutes of saline infusion in patients with ulcerative colitis and throughout the infusion in those patients who complained of incontinence. Results suggest that although the resting rectal motor activity is diminished in patients with ulcerative colitis, luminal distension causes the inflamed rectum to generate abnormally strong contractions that may threaten continence.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

How to examine patients using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale.

The Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS) examination has been widely recommended for periodic screening for tardive dyskinesia and follow-up of patients diagnosed with the disorder. However, few guidelines exist about how to use the examination in clinical practice. The authors discuss for whom, when, and how the AIMS examination can be used in a multidisciplinary setting; amplify the original instructions for the examination; and propose conventions to clarify scoring. Noting that the AIMS examination is not specific for tardive dyskinesia, they discuss a clinical approach to the patient who is found to have abnormal movements. The AIMS examination is best conducted within the context of an ongoing treatment program, the authors say, and should be part of the informed consent process necessary with patients treated with neuroleptic drugs.

Antipsychotic Agents↗
PubMed1988

The ultrasonographic appearances of hilar cholangiocarcinoma (Klatskin tumours).

The findings on ultrasound of 40 patients presenting between 1984 and 1987 who were subsequently proven pathologically to have hilar cholangiocarcinoma were reviewed. The sonograms of 17 other patients in whom pathological confirmation was not obtained but who were also presumed to have Klatskin tumours on clinical and radiological grounds, were also reviewed. All patients demonstrated intrahepatic bile duct dilatation with no evidence of free communication between the right and left hepatic ducts. A hilar mass was observed in 74% of the patients. Seventy-nine per cent of the hilar masses were of increased echogenicity relative to surrounding liver, 19% were of reduced echogenicity and 2% of mixed echogenicity. An intraluminal mass was seen in 21% of the patients and bile duct wall thickening was observed in 4%. The mass detection rate of different ultrasound equipment was also compared. In 15 patients the ability of ultrasound to predict the order of intrahepatic bile duct involvement was compared with cholangiography.

Adenoma, Bile Duct↗
PubMed1988

Acute esophageal stricture after bone marrow transplantation.

Gastrointestinal complications following bone marrow transplantation are common and may result from the conditioning regimen, immunosuppression, graft-versus-host disease, or a combination of these factors. These effects may be acute (mucositis, enteritis, esophagitis) or delayed (xerostomia, stricture formation) in onset. We describe here a case of esophageal stricture developing within 1 month of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Comparison of enzymatic and pharmacological activities of lysine-49 and aspartate-49 phospholipases A2 from Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus snake venom.

The basic Lys-49 phospholipase A2 (PLA2) from Agkistrodon piscivorus piscivorus venom is homologous to the basic Asp-49 PLA2 from the same venom as well as other snake venom PLA2 enzymes. It differs, however, in several respects, most important being replacement of the previously invariant Asp-49 at the calcium binding site by Lys, resulting in a reversed order of addition of calcium and phospholipid, phospholipid binding first. Although the preferences for phospholipid substrates of the two enzymes are identical, the apparent Vmax of the Lys-49 PLA2 was only 1.4 to 3% that of the Asp-49 enzyme. Similarly, the Lys-49 PLA2, compared to the Asp-49 PLA2 had less than 3% of the intraventricular lethal potency and 4% of the anticoagulant activity. The intravenous lethal potency of the Lys-49 enzyme was 20% that of the Asp-49 PLA2 and both had little direct hemolytic activity. In contrast, both enzymes were approximately equipotent on the phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation and on the isolated ventricle strip of the heart. On the cardiac and neuromuscular preparations, the effects of the Asp-49 PLA2 were accompanied by hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, whereas no phospholipid hydrolysis was observed with the Lys-49 PLA2. Evaluation of the present results, along with earlier findings using Asp-49 PLA2 enzymes from Naja nigricollis, Hemachatus haemachatus and Naja naja atra venoms, allows us to conclude that: The A. p. piscivorus Asp-49 PLA2 enzyme resembles the Asp-49 enzymes from N. n. atra and H. haemachatus. In contrast, the A. p. piscivorus Lys-49 PLA2 has much lower enzymatic and anticoagulant activities than the Asp-49 enzymes, but equal cardiotoxic and junctional effects. In contrast to some previous suggestions, basic PLA2 enzymes are not necessarily more toxic than neutral or acidic enzymes. Pharmacological effects upon the heart and phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation correlate neither with in vitro measurements of PLA2 activity nor with actual levels of phospholipid hydrolysis in the heart or diaphragm. This suggests that PLA2 enzymes exert effects independent of phospholipid hydrolysis.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

The Self Care Assessment Schedule (SCAS)--I. The purpose and construction of a new assessment of self care behaviours.

The Self Care Assessment Schedule (SCAS) is a new questionnaire which measures the frequency of ten behaviours during a period of fourteen days. Data are presented for five patient samples and a group of non consulting controls and the distributions of scores between groups show expected differences. In some groups scores are significantly greater for male subjects and those with the most chronic disorders but scores are not related to age. It is tentatively suggested that the SCAS may be used to determine the severity of aspects of disability based on percentile scores.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1987

The Self Care Assessment Schedule (SCAS)--II. Reliability and validity.

Evaluation of the SCAS in three groups of patients demonstrates high levels of test-retest reliability and satisfactory internal consistency. Multiple investigations of validity support the use of the SCAS as a measure of self care deficit which is related to social disability. The potential uses of the SCAS in clinical work and research are discussed.

Activities of Daily Living↗
PubMed1984

The effect of illness behaviour on the apparent relationship between physical and mental disorders.

Evidence for associations between organic disease and psychopathology is reviewed and it is concluded that some of this is determined by complaint and consultation behaviours. The concept of illness behaviour is described. The Self Care Assessment Schedule (SCAS) is a new measure of illness behaviour and has been used to provide an independent assessment of psychiatric day patients, gynaecology and surgical outpatients. Only weak positive correlations were found between SCAS scores and mental illness, measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Subjects with organic pathology differed little from those without organic pathology, with regard to SCAS and GHQ scores. However SCAS and GHQ scores were more highly correlated in those without organic pathology. It is concluded that claimed associations between physical disease and psychopathology should be based on objective evidence rather than subjective complaints and that this should be found across the entire spectrum of illness behaviour.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed1982

Community screening for mental illness: a validity study of the General Health Questionnaire.

The 60-item GHQ was validated in a community population by comparison with the CIS. The GHQ failed to identify nearly half of the psychiatric 'cases' in this population. Those missed were similar to those detected except for greater chronicity of illness and more frequent social and interpersonal problems. The GHQ appears to be unsuitable as a screening instrument for mental illness in the community and the possible reasons are discussed. Principal components and analysis resulted in a 15-item GHQ factor which, when used with Likert scoring, resulted in considerable improvement and failed to identify only 4 per cent of 'cases'. It is suggested that this may prove a more satisfactory screening instrument.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Evaluation of standardized behavioural treatment for agoraphobic in-patients administered by untrained therapists.

Using a standardized behavioural programme, nine in-patients with severe agoraphobia were treated by staff who had minimal training in the theory and practice of behaviour therapy. With one exception patients showed marked reduction in subjective fear and avoidance, both following treatment and at follow-up. The indications for such treatment are considered and compared with those for alternative behavioural approaches that have recently been advocated.

Adult↗
PubMed1980

Portal hypertension associated with systemic mastocytosis and splenomegaly.

An unusual case of systemic mastocytosis with splenomegaly, portal hypertension, and bleeding esophageal varices is presented. Arteriograms and liver biopsy suggested the mechanism of the portal hypertension was due to increased blood flow in the splenic vein, although splenic arteriovenous shunting secondary to histamine release and increased intrahepatic resistance secondary to mast cell infiltration might have played a role. The portal hypertension was relieved by splenectomy.

Esophageal and Gastric Varices↗