Publications by authors named "Bell N"

This research tested the belief that muscle contractions are a primary source of tension headache. EMG level was found to be associated with both headache-specific and more global symptoms following biofeedback training. However, the level of pretreatment relationship between EMG level and headache symptoms was weak, and the amount of reduction in EMG activity over the course of biofeedback did not explain improvement.

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We studied the effects of the guanine nucleotide-binding regulatory protein (Gs) from human erythrocytes on PTH-responsive adenylate cyclase from partially purified membranes of canine renal cortex (CRC). Extracts of erythrocyte membranes, containing soluble Gs, was obtained by treatment with a detergent (Lubrol PX). Gs did not stimulate adenylate cyclase activity by itself, but amplified the response of adenylate cyclase in CRC membranes to both synthetic bovine PTH-(1-34) [bPTH-(1-34)] and to the hydrolysis-resistant GTP analog 5'-guanylimido-diphosphate [Gpp(NH)p].

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Previous in vitro studies in rachitic rat liver suggested that 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D inhibits the hepatic production of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD). An investigation therefore was carried out in eight normal subjects to determine whether concomitant administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] would alter the response of serum 25-OHD to challenge with vitamin D. In control studies, vitamin D, 100,000 U/d for 4 d, significantly increased mean serum 25-OHD, from 26.

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Available evidence indicates that hypercalcemia in pulmonary tuberculosis results from increases in circulating 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1 alpha, 25(OH)2D]. To further characterize vitamin D metabolism in this disorder, the effects of vitamin D, 100,000 units a day for 4 days, were compared in 25 normal subjects and 11 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis who were normocalcemic and had not had hypercalcemia. Serum calcium, phosphorus, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and 1 alpha, 25(OH)2D were measured.

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To determine the role of the kidney in regulation of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD3, metabolism, the effects of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol [1,25(OH)2D3] on 3H-25OHD3 were compared in intact and nephrectomized vitamin D-deficient rats. Sixteen hours after the intravenous administration of 3H-25OHD3, extracts of serum and pooled small intestinal mucosa were fractionated by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography followed by high performance liquid chromatography. In intact rats, 1,25(OH)2D3 (50 ng/day i.

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The administration of a subcutaneous injection was simulated by piercing the skin of volunteers with syringe needles. Interiors of 2.4% of the needles were found to be contaminated with micro-organisms from the skin as were 3.

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Deficiency of circulating 1 alpha-25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha,25(OH)2D) regularly occurs in hypoparathyroidism (HP) and pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP). Osteomalacia is occasionally found in the two diseases. Two patients, one with HP and the other with PHP, both with symptomatic and biopsy-proven osteomalacia, were studied before and after treatment with 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3.

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In vitro studies suggest that cimetidine affects parathyroid hormone secretion. It has been reported that cimetidine (Ci) reduces serum immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) in hyperparathyroid subjects (HPTH) and chronic renal failure patients. Studies were performed to determine the effects of intravenous and 8 days of oral Ci on serum iPTH, total calcium (TCAL), ionized calcium (ICAL), phosphorus (PHO), and magnesium (MAG), as well as on the urinary excretion of calcium, PHO, and cAMP.

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Available evidence in vitro and in vivo suggests that pharmacologic doses of isoproterenol stimulate the secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin (CT) and propranolol inhibits secretion. However, the findings in man are either quite modest or inconsistent. In view of this controversy, we examined the effects of isoproterenol, 0.

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Recent studies provide evidence for extrarenal production of 1 alpha ,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1 alpha ,25(OH)2D]. To investigate this possibility, serum vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), 24,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [24,25(OH)2D], and 1 alpha ,25(OH)2D were measured in eight adult anephric subjects. All were undergoing hemodialysis and three of them were receiving vitamin D, 50,000 or 100,000 U/d.

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The effects of vitamin D, 2.5 mg (100,000 U)/d for 4 d, on serum calcium, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and serum 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1 alpha, 25(OH)2D) were compared in 24 normal adults and 12 normal children. The daily dose of vitamin D was 1,500 U/kg body wt in children weighing less than 45 kg.

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Recombinant DNA techniques were used to analyze the structure of the messenger RNA encoding a precursor of calcitonin, a small calcium-regulating hormone of 32 amino acids. Analyses of the nucleotide sequences of cloned complementary DNA's comprising the entire coding sequence of the messenger RNA revealed that calcitonin is flanked at both its amino and carboxyl termini by peptide extensions linked to the hormone by short sequences of basic amino acids. The location of glycine next to the carboxyl terminal prolinamide of calcitonin is consistent with indications that glycine is required for the enzymatic amidation of proline to the prolinamide.

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Reactions of teachers and college students were obtained to a child, labeled male or female, exhibiting stereotypically masculine or feminine verbal behavior. The findings were: (1) adults did not redirect or discourage cross-gender compared with gender-appropriate behavior; (2) adults rated same-sex children higher on a subset of masculine traits, regardless of the child's behavior; (3) adult females rated the child more positively and responded to the child in a more reinforcing manner than did males; (4) male teachers responded to the child more positively than nonteachers, but the reverse was true for females; (5) all adults reinforced feminine more than masculine behaviors; and (6) nonteachers were more attracted to the female child and the child exhibiting feminine behaviors, while teachers were more attracted to the male child and the child exhibiting masculine behaviors.

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Messenger RNA extracted from rat medullary carcinoma of the thyroid directs the synthesis in cell-free translation systems of a precursor of calcitonin, Mr = 15,000, substantially larger than the mature form of the hormone, Mr = 3,500. When translations of the mRNA were carried out in the presence of microsomal membranes prepared from a canine pancreas, a larger product (apparent Mr = 17,000) was observed by electrophoresis of the labeled proteins in the translation mixtures on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. This membrane-processed product of Mr = 17,000 was specifically immunoprecipitated by an antiserum to synthetic calcitonin and bound to concanavalin A-Sepharose.

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The findings of this study indicated that: a) the aspects of community functioning included in this study were relatively stable over a two-year period; b) when change did occur, it tended to be toward the end of the two-year period; c) ability level (basic skills) was related to community functioning more consistently than age, gender, or the environmental variables included in these analyses; d) relationships with ability were more frequent following approximately 10 months in the community than prior to that time; and e) there is a possibility that the time period around 10 months after entry into the community is a particularly difficult time and warrants further investigation.

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Passive immunization with somatostatin (SRIF) antiserum suggests that gastrin, glucagon, and calcitonin secretion may be exerted either locally by contiguity of SRIF-like immunoreactivity (SRIF-LI)-containing D cells and G (gastrin) and A (glucagon) cells (paracrine) or by an endocrine effect. To determine whether a reciprocal relationship exists in man between these peptides and SRIF-LI, the effects of pentagastrin (0.5 microgram/kg BW), glucagon (1 mg), and calcium (15 mg/kg BW) on serum SRIF-LI were examined.

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Somatostatin-like immunoreactivity (SRIF-LI) has previously been demonstrated immunohistochemically in rat thyroid parafollicular cells. Studies were therefore performed to determine whether SRIF-LI was present in a transplantable medullary carcinoma of the thyroid (MCT) in the WAG/Rij strain of rat. SRIF-LI was found in MCT in significantly higher concentrations than in normal thyroid tissue.

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