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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Relationships between the life values of U.S. college students and their cognitive/affective responses to the threat of nuclear war.

The present study was designed to examine relationships between the life values of 399 U.S. college students and their nuclear war-related thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The students completed four scales from the Life Values Inventory: (i.e. Conventionally Defined Success [CDS]; Religious Faith and Devotion [RFD]; Activist Pursuit of Social Causes [APSC]; Materialistic Orientation [MO]), the Satisfaction With Life Scale, four scales from the Nuclear War Inventory--Nuclear Distress; Salience; Weapons Opposition; Personal Efficacy--and a single behavioral measure of approach toward information concerning nuclear weapons. Consistent with theory regarding the influence of values and commitments on attitudes and behavior, APSC was found to be positively associated with all five nuclear war measures. Additionally, MO was negatively related to Personal Efficacy and Information Approach, and CDS was positively associated with Nuclear Distress. The only value dimension which covaried significantly with general life satisfaction was RFD. Results are discussed with respect to the recent rise in conservative and materialistically-oriented values among American college students.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Plasma levels, half-life values, and correlation with physiologic assays for growth and immunity.

Plasma prednisolone levels have been measured hourly in children receiving a single dose of oral prednisone. Peak prednisolone levels occurred one to two hours after ingestion; half-life studies gave a mean value of 132 minutes in most children. Some children had marked variability in absorption and metabolism of prednisone. Somatomedin activity and cell-mediated immunity were inhibited by plasma prednisolone values which were achieved by single doses of prednisone of 0.5 mg/kg or higher. Monitoring prednisolone levels may be of value in identifying those children who accumulate excessively high levels on moderate dosage regimens.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1988

The first seizure in adult life. Value of clinical features, electroencephalography, and computerised tomographic scanning in prediction of seizure recurrence.

408 adults (age 16 and over) were followed up after their initial seizure. The actuarial risk of recurrence was highest in the early weeks. For those seen within the first week, the risk of recurrence was 52% by the end of 3 years. In univariate analysis, the only clinical variable that was associated with recurrence was the time of day at which the initial seizure occurred. There was a tendency, that did not reach statistical significance, for younger age (less than 50 years) and a family history of seizures of any type, including febrile convulsions, to be associated with recurrence. Such risk factors appear to be additive, so that the risk of recurrence at 1 year for a subject with all three factors is about three times that of a subject with none of them. Sex, type of seizure, and features of the electroencephalogram were not of predictive value. Computerised tomographic scanning revealed tumours in 3% of subjects, and these individuals were particularly likely to have recurrent seizures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[The value of life and limb].

Assessment of the value of life and limbs is a controversial subject, not only emotionally but also theoretically. The economic starting point is based on assessment of the value of reduction or increase of the probability for an event which leads to disability or death. No concern is expressed for the single individual but for the phenomenon of probability where the person or persons who are affected by an event cannot be identified. Assessment of the value is in monetary units. The obvious discrepancy between the expression "value of life and limbs" and the theoretical content of the analysis has involved many misunderstandings. Attempts are made to elucidate and explain these. There is e.g. another method of assessing the value of life and limbs, the human capital method. In this, the disability and the premature death (compared with the current time) by means of loss of occupational income are assessed. The method is criticized and is discarded on the basis of theoretical arguments and consequences, the calculations of which are employed. Unfortunately, it has proved tempting to employ the method because it is relatively easy to make the calculations. Finally, the parts played by some recent questionnaire methods for assessment of alterations of risks are discussed. Assessment of the value of alterations in risks is an important requirement in order to carry out relevant cost-benefit analyses in the health sector. In cases where this is not possible, these analyses are meaningless.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed1985

Association of the positive inotropic action of ouabain with a second species of digitalis receptors.

Studies were conducted to determine whether Na-K ATPase or a second species of digitalis receptors in canine cardiac sarcolemma membrane preparations is associated with the positive inotropic action of nontoxic concentrations of ouabain. [3H]ouabain association and dissociation experiments using highly enriched sarcolemma preparations from canine ventricle indicate the presence of two species of ouabain binding receptors. Ouabain binding to Na-K ATPase of the sarcolemma preparation requires supporting ligands and is characterized by fast association and very slow dissociation in vitro. The second species of digitalis receptor does not require supporting ligands for ouabain binding and is characterized by slow association and fast dissociation. To determine which species of digitalis receptor is associated with the positive inotropic action of digitalis, ouabain washout experiments were conducted using various isolated canine myocardial preparations. Washout of the positive inotropic effects of 1.2-2.4 X 10(-7) M ouabain gave half-life values of 1.5-2.0 h for the various myocardial preparations. [3H]ouabain dissociation from the second species of digitalis receptors gave half-life values of 1.7-1.8 h, whereas dissociation from the sarcolemma Na-K ATPase gave half-life values of 8.9-9.3 h for the various sarcolemma preparations utilized. Therefore, based on similarities in half-life values between ouabain inotropy and [3H]ouabain dissociation from the second class of digitalis receptors, it is postulated that the positive inotropic action of digitalis glycosides is associated with the second species of digitalis receptors in the sarcolemma and not with the digitalis inhibitory receptor of Na-K ATPase for nontoxic concentrations of digitalis.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

QALYfying the value of life.

This paper argues that the Quality Adjusted Life Year or QALY is fatally flawed as a way of priority setting in health care and of dealing with the problem of scarce resources. In addition to showing why this is so the paper sets out a view of the moral constraints that govern the allocation of health resources and suggests reasons for a new attitude to the health budget.

Ethics, Medical↗
PubMed1977

[Studies on the effects of intravenous administration of glucose, fructose, invertose and sorbitol on various blood constituents of blood plasma (monosaccharides, insulin, lactate, pyruvate and free fatty acids as well as glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase) in the horse].

Horses were examined for the behaviour of various blood constituents prior to and following infusions of solutions of glucose, fructose, invertose, and sorbitol. Infusion of 0.5 g/kg live weight glucose to six horses was followed by half-life variation between eleven and 23 minutes. Subsequent infusion of invertose to the same animals usually caused prolongation of glucose half-life. Half-life values were between 17 and 33 minutes for fructose and between 21 and 80 minutes for glucose. Infusion of 0.5 g/kg live weight fructose to two horses was followed by half-life values between 17 and 18 minutes, while the half-life values of sugar alcohol were 16, 16, 27, and 29 minutes in four horses who had received sorbitol. Sugar or sorbitol infusion was not followed by substantive change of lactate and pyruvate concentrations in the blood or free fatty acids in the blood plasma or GOT activity. The rise of insulin in the blood plasma was differentiated. Invertose and sorbitol solutions, consequently, can be recommended for application to horses.

Animals↗
PubMed1969

Inactivation of poliovirus type 1 by the Kelly-Purdy ultraviolet seawater treatment unit.

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effect of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on poliovirus-contaminated seawater. In two of the experiments, the effectiveness of the Kelly-Purdy UV Seawater Treatment Unit to inactivate poliovirus type 1 (T(1)) suspended in continuously flowing seawater was determined. In experiment 1, the observed survival ratio of poliovirus T(1) was 2.3 x 10(-4) (99.98% reduction) in 15.7 sec. No virus was detected (<0.2 plaque-forming unit/ml) in 20.6 seconds. The calculated half-life value was 1.29 sec. In experiment 2, the observed survival ratio of poliovirus T(1) was 5.9 x 10(-4) (99.94% reduction) in 11.7 sec. No virus was detected in 15.7 sec. The calculated half-life value was 1.37 sec. In experiment 3, a laboratory-controlled UV experiment designed to closely simulate the geometry of the continuously flowing seawater system, the observed survival ratios of poliovirus T(1) were 9.7 x 10(-3) (99.03% reduction) and 3.6 x 10(-4) (99.96% reduction) in 15 and 30 sec, respectively; the calculated half-life value was 2.38 sec. A statistically significant difference was found between the inactivation rates of poliovirus T(1) in the two test systems. This rate difference was attributed primarily to UV dosage and stirring effects. The data indicated that UV radiation effectively inactivated poliovirus T(1) in flowing seawater. These results validate the efficacy of the Kelly-Purdy UV Seawater Treatment Unit for use in commercial depuration systems.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1987

The comparative pharmacokinetics of H1-receptor antagonists.

H1-receptor antagonists appear to be absorbed rapidly after oral administration, with peak serum concentrations being reached one to three hours after a dose. For most of these drugs, the absolute bioavailability is unknown because no intravenous formulations are available for comparative purposes. The serum elimination half-life values of these agents are variable: a few hours for terfenadine and triprolidine; about 9 hours for cetirizine, azatadine, and loratadine; from 20 to 25 hours for hydroxyzine, chlorpheniramine, and brompheniramine; and from 5 to 14 days for astemizole. Few pharmacokinetic studies of H1-receptor antagonists in children have been reported. However, it is known that chlorpheniramine, hydroxyzine, cetirizine, and terfenadine have shorter elimination half-life values in children than in adults. Regardless of the age of patients, for most of the H1-receptor antagonists the apparent volumes of distribution and total body clearances appear to be large (3.4 to 18.5 L/kg and 4.4 to 32.1 mL/min/kg, respectively). Cetirizine is an exception, with values of 0.8 L/kg and 0.5 mL/min/kg. Urinary excretion of unchanged antihistamine is higher after cetirizine (60% of dose) than any other H1 blocker. For H1-receptor antagonists with long half-life values, steady state may not be reached for several days (chlorpheniramine and brompheniramine) or several weeks (astemizole), and significant accumulation of drug occurs if the dosing interval is more frequent than every half-life. There is no evidence for the introduction of metabolism of H1-receptor antagonists, even after months of treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

A microcomputer program for individualizing factor VIII dosage in hemophilia patients undergoing major surgery.

A pharmacokinetic program that allows individualization of Factor VIII dosage regiments in hemophilia patients undergoing major surgery is described. The program, which is designed for the IBM PC microcomputer and compatible machines, is based upon the one-compartment open model with instantaneous input. In the framework of such a pharmacokinetic model, it is assumed that the elimination of Factor VIII is faster during the early post-operative period and that it decreases progressively over the following days. Since Factor VIII half-life is dependent on the time elapsed since the operation (short half-life values during the early post-operative period, longer half-life values thereafter), the pharmacokinetic model is a nonlinear one. A first-order 'variation' rate constant is used to describe the prolongation of Factor VIII half-life from the initial value immediately after surgery to the final value achieved several days later. Individualized estimation of the patient's kinetic parameters (initial half-life, 'variation' rate constant and volume of distribution) is performed through the Bayesian method. Therefore, for such estimation the program exploits the Factor VIII plasma levels measured in the individual patient as well as the population pharmacokinetic data of Factor VIII. After estimating the individual's Bayesian parameters, the program predicts the dosage regimen that will elicit the desired time-course of Factor VIII plasma levels. If requested, the program is able to calculate the least-squares estimates for the parameters of the pharmacokinetic model and dosage prediction can also be made on the basis of such estimates. The least-squares estimates are useful for calculating population pharmacokinetic parameters according to the Standard Two-Stage method. Some examples of clinical use of the program are presented.

Computers↗
PubMed1975

Influence of sialic acid groups on the retention of glycosphingolipids in blood plasma.

The removal of several glycosphingolipids from the circulation and their disposal in different tissue and fluid compartments was studied in adult rats. 3H-labeled dihydro analogs of several glycosphingolipids were injected intravenously and radioactivity was measured in arterial blood samples at subsequent time intervals, to obtain half life values for the labeled compound in the plasma. Half life values of less than 1 min were obtained for neutral glycosphingolipids whereas the half lives of labeled gangliosides were much longer and ranged from 3.8 to 21 h. The prompt removal of labeled neutral glycosphingolipids but not of the gangliosides indicates that sialic acid groups play a significant role in the retention of glycosphingolipids in the circulation. The results suggest that neutral glycosphingolipids are rapidly exchanged with their counterparts in a large extraplasma pool and that a major portion of this exchange could occur between plasma and liver. The detection of only a minute fraction of the injected glycosphingolipids in the cerebrospinal fluid indicates that a blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier exists for these compounds in the rat.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Clearance of intravitreal 3H-fluorouracil.

The clearance of intravitreally administered 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was studied under five experimental conditions. The same nontoxic dose resulted in similar initial intravitreal concentrations and cleared rapidly from all eyes (approximately 90% clearance within eight hours). Half-life values ranged from 46 to 168 minutes. The longest half-life occurred in aphakic-vitrectomized eyes in which hyaluronic acid (Healon) was substituted for vitreous (168 minutes). A similar half-life was found in normal eyes (150 minutes). The shortest half-life occurred in aphakic-vitrectomized eyes postoperatively (46 minutes). Intermediate half-life values occurred in vitrectomized but phakic eyes postoperatively (67 minutes) and in aphakic-vitrectomized "quiet" eyes (at least two weeks postoperatively) (82 minutes).

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Metabolism and disposition of buspirone.

The metabolism and disposition of buspirone have been studied in the rat, the monkey, and in more than 150 human subjects. Buspirone is well absorbed, but is subject to first-pass metabolism. The mean systemic availability is approximately 4 percent. Buspirone is eliminated primarily by oxidative metabolism, which produces several hydroxylated metabolites, including 5-hydroxy-buspirone and 1-pyrimidinylpiperazine. The latter metabolite is from 1 to 20 percent as potent as buspirone in a variety of pharmacologic tests; 5-hydroxybuspirone is essentially inactive. In humans, the systemic exposure to buspirone increases linearly in relation to the oral dose. Food increases the bioavailability of buspirone by decreasing first-pass metabolism; absorption is not markedly altered. The pharmacokinetics of buspirone were not significantly different in men and women or in individuals 21 to 40 years old compared with those over 65 years of age. Half-life values observed in healthy volunteers ranged from two to 33 hours. Mean half-life values observed in healthy volunteers in the 14 studies conducted to date ranged from 2 +/- 1 to 11 +/- 3 hours. The half-life in women tended to be slightly longer than in men, but the difference was not significant. Hepatic cirrhosis resulted in a marked decrease in the clearance of buspirone, which correlated with serum alkaline phosphatase activity. Renal disease produced a modest decrease in buspirone clearance, which could not be correlated with an objective clinical measurement reflecting the severity of renal impairment. Buspirone was not removed by hemodialysis. Buspirone is highly protein bound (more than 95 percent), interacting with both albumin and alpha-acid glycoprotein. However, buspirone did not displace dilantin, propranolol, digoxin, or warfarin from plasma proteins. In rats, buspirone neither inhibited nor induced hepatic mixed-function oxidases. Co-administration of buspirone with amitriptyline or diazepam did not alter the disposition of these agents or their demethylated metabolites.

Absorption↗