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Biomedical subjects

A D Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to A D Taylor.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1994

Cytokines, glucocorticoids and neuroendocrine function.

Activation of the immune system is normally associated with widespread alterations in neuroendocrine activity, the profile of which depends upon the species and on the severity and duration of the stimulus. Particularly important in this regard is the activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis for the consequent rise in circulating glucocorticoids serves to contain the ensuing pathophysiological responses and thus to restore homeostasis. In the present study, in vivo and in vitro techniques have been used to examine the influence of various immunokines on the HPA axis and to determine whether their actions are modulated by glucocorticoids and lipocortin 1 (LC1). In vivo interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), given orally or peripherally, produced increases (P < 0.01) the serum corticosterone concentration which were reversed by pretreatment with dexamethasone. IL-1 beta also produced glucocorticoid reversible increases in the release of the two corticotrophin releasing factors, CRF-41 and AVP, from the hypothalamus in vitro (P < 0.01) as also did IL-1 alpha, IL-6 and IL-8. By contrast, none of these cytokines influenced directly the release of ACTH from pituitary tissue in vitro. The inhibitory actions of the glucocorticoids on the HPA responses to cytokines observed in vivo and in vitro were mimicked by LC1 and reversed by neutralizing anti-LC1 antisera. Our results demonstrate a role of cytokines, glucocorticoids and LC1 in effecting the interplay between the brain-neuroendocrine and immune system which may be critical to host defence in conditions of both health and disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Lipocortin 1 mediates an early inhibitory action of glucocorticoids on the secretion of ACTH by the rat anterior pituitary gland in vitro.

Lipocortin 1 (LC1), a mediator of anti-inflammatory steroid action in some peripheral tissues, may contribute to the acute inhibitory effects of these steroids on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) function. Accordingly, in the present study we have used an in vitro model to examine the potential role of this protein in the regulation of the release of corticotrophin (ACTH) from the anterior pituitary gland. Hypothalamic extracts (0.05-0.4 HE/ml), the 41 amino acid corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF-41, 1-100 nM), the adenyl cyclase stimulator, forskolin (0.1 microM-10 mM), and the L-Ca2+ channel opener, BAY K8644 (0.01-10 mM), all caused concentration-dependent increases in the release in vitro of immunoreactive (ir)-ACTH from segments of rat anterior pituitary tissue. The secretory responses to submaximal concentrations of these secretagogues were overcome by preincubation of the tissue with dexamethasone (0.1 and 1 microM). LC1 was readily detectable by Western blotting in protein extracts of freshly excised pituitary tissue; a small proportion of the protein was found to be attached to the outer surface of the cell membranes where it was retained by a Ca(2+)-dependent mechanism. Exposure to dexamethasone (0.1 microM) in vitro did not affect the total LC1 content of the pituitary tissue but, over a 2-hour period, it caused a progressive two- to fivefold increase in the amount of LC1 attached to the outer surface of the cell; this response developed in parallel with the inhibitory effects of the steroid on ir-ACTH release. Both the dexamethasone-induced 'externalization' of LC1 by the pituitary tissue and the concomitant steroid-induced inhibition of peptide release were blocked by cycloheximide (1.0 microgram/ml) but not by actinomycin D (0.5 microgram/ml). A stable N-terminal lipocortin 1 fragment, LC1(1-188) (10 pg-10 ng/ml), attenuated (p < 0.01) the release of ir-ACTH evoked by HE (0.1 HE/ml), CRF-41 (1 nM), forskolin (1 mM) and BAY K8644 (1 nM). Conversely, inclusion of the anti-LC1 antibody in the medium substantially overcame the inhibitory effects of dexamethasone (0.1 microM) on the release of ir-ACTH evoked by the secretagogues whilst a control isotype matched antibody was without effect. The results suggest that LC1 plays a key role in effecting the acute inhibitory actions of glucocorticoids on the secretion of ir-ACTH by the rat anterior pituitary gland.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗
PubMed1992

Audit in action: significant reduction of double-contrast barium enema screening time with no loss of examination quality.

The double-contrast barium enema is an examination of high radiation exposure to the patient. As part of a departmental audit, our own fluoroscopic screening times were being recorded. A study was undertaken to see if a determined effort could reduce the screening time without having a detrimental effect on the quality of the examinations. Methods of screening time reduction were identified and then implemented by two radiologists. In the period before the study the average screening time for radiologists A and B was 2.6 min and 3.2 min, respectively (over 56 examinations). After implementation of the changes, the average screening time for both was 0.9 min (over 50 examinations). This is a statistically significant reduction (p less than 0.01). The examinations were assessed independently by a gastroradiologist. No difference in the quality of the examinations was identified. We conclude that a significant reduction of screening time for the double-contrast barium enema can be achieved without loss of examination quality.

Barium Sulfate↗
PubMed1990

Personality types of family practice residents in the 1980s.

This study was based on a nationwide sample of 778 family practice residents in the mid-1980s and was conducted to determine the personality types that were most common among those residents. The results showed that the single most common personality type was that in which the individual prefers to see the world in terms of challenges and future possibilities and to make decisions based upon his or her subjective values. These results showed that the sample differed significantly in Myers-Briggs personality type from both the general practitioners of the 1950s and the early family practice residents of the 1970s, who preferred to see the world in terms of the immediate facts of experience and to make decisions objectively. There were also significant differences between the civilian and military family practice residents, but not between the community-based and university-based residents. Implications regarding future practice styles, physicians' personal values, and manpower needs are discussed.

Career Choice↗
PubMed1987

Femoral artery pulse rise time: an objective test for aorto-iliac disease.

A method is described for assessing stenosis in the aorto-iliac arterial segment using a hand-held variable capacitance pressure transducer to take objective measurements from the common femoral pulse. The aorto-iliac segments were studied in 51 arteriopaths and the common femoral pulse rise time derived. The patients also underwent an independent clinical examination. The rise time results from 88 common femoral pulses were compared with subsequent arteriographic assessment of the aorto-iliac segments, and in 67 cases with direct intra-arterial pressure measurements from the common femoral artery. A highly significant correlation coefficient was found between the common femoral pulse rise time and the degree of aorto-iliac stenosis on the arteriogram (r = 0.80). Similarly, there was good correlation between pulse rise time and the direct common femoral/radial pressure ratios (r = -0.82). The results were analysed in terms of sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy for determining greater or less than 50% stenosis on the arteriogram. Using a pulse rise time of 200 ms a sensitivity of 97%, specificity of 93% and diagnostic accuracy of 94% were obtained. This was significantly better than clinical examination which gave a diagnostic accuracy of 83% (X2 = 5.57, P less than 0.02). The results suggest that this non-invasive method of objective pulse assessment gives superior accuracy for diagnosing aorto-iliac stenotic disease. The ease of use and relative simplicity of the apparatus are advantages over more complex non-invasive techniques employing microprocessors in the analysis of blood velocity.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Effects of bepridil on regional myocardial ischemia and comparison with verapamil.

This study was designed to assess the efficacy of bepridil in reducing regional myocardial ischemia and to compare its efficacy with that of verapamil. Forty-five anesthetized, open-chest dogs were subjected to three 5-minute occlusions of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD), each followed by 45 minutes of reperfusion. Eleven dogs (group 1) served as controls. In 10 dogs, bepridil, 5 mg/kg, was administered before the third occlusion (group 2). In 11 dogs, verapamil was administered before the third occlusion (group 3). In each dog, on-line intramyocardial hydrogen ion concentration and carbon dioxide tension were measured in the myocardial segment supplied by the LAD. Regional myocardial contractility was assessed in this area with 2 pairs of ultrasonic crystals inserted to determine percent segmental shortening. Regional myocardial blood flow was determined during each occlusion by washout of xenon-127. The increase in hydrogen ion concentration and carbon dioxide tension did not change from occlusion 2 to occlusion 3 in the control group. Both bepridil and verapamil elicited a significant reduction in the extent of regional ischemia, evidenced by a reduction in the accumulation of hydrogen ions, in occlusion 3 vs occlusion 2. Systolic bulging occurred during all occlusions and the periods of reperfusion were not sufficient to allow complete recovery of regional function. Bepridil and verapamil each caused a significant increase in percent segmental shortening (both p less than 0.025), and verapamil effected a significant improvement of function during occlusion 3 compared with occlusion 2.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1985

The significance of the late fall in myocardial PCO2 and its relationship to myocardial pH after regional coronary occlusion in the dog.

After acute regional coronary occlusion, myocardial tissue PCO2, as measured by mass spectrometry, rises, reaches a peak, and then gradually falls. This late fall in myocardial tissue PCO2 could be due to (1) a gradual increase in tissue blood flow (and hence improved carbon dioxide washout), (2) a gradual consumption of tissue bicarbonate, (3) a gradual reduction in the production of carbon dioxide due to progressive cellular damage, or (4) an artifact caused by the continued presence of the mass spectrometer probe in the ischemic tissue. To determine which of these four mechanisms is responsible for the late fall in myocardial tissue PCO2, we subjected 27 anesthetized open-chest dogs to 3-hour occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Both myocardial tissue PCO2 and intramyocardial hydrogen ion concentration were measured in the myocardial segment supplied by the left anterior descending coronary artery. Ten dogs (group 1) were killed after the occlusion (occlusion I), and 11 dogs (group 2) underwent reocclusion (occlusion II) at the same site after a 45-minute period of reflow. Regional myocardial blood flow was measured periodically by the intramural injection of 127Xe. Changes in myocardial tissue PCO2 and hydrogen ion concentration were related to ultrastructural changes in the tissues adjacent to the myocardial tissue PCO2 probe. Regional myocardial blood flow remained unchanged throughout the 3-hour occlusion, ruling out increased carbon dioxide washout as a cause for its late fall. Tissue hydrogen ion concentration, as measured by a new lead glass electrode, correlated well with myocardial tissue PCO2, with the reduction in regional myocardial blood flow, and with ischemic damage assessed histologically. Myocardial hydrogen ion concentration also exhibited a late fall after the occlusion, from a peak of 199.8 +/- 27.8 nmol/liter to 91.9 +/- 12.1 nmol/liter (mean +/- SEM). This ruled out consumption of tissue bicarbonate as the cause for the late fall in myocardial tissue PCO2. Peak rise in myocardial tissue PCO2 after occlusion II (71.2 +/- 7.9 mm Hg) was significantly lower than peak myocardial tissue PCO2 after occlusion I (116.7 +/- 13.9 mm Hg, P less than 0.001). The difference between these latter two values, as well as the magnitude of fall in myocardial tissue PCO2 during occlusion I, related directly to the degree of histological damage observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Platelet factor 4 (PF4) and heparin-released platelet factor 4 (HR-PF4) in patients with cardiovascular disorders.

The recent introduction of the determinations of platelet factor 4 (PF4) and beta-thromboglobulin (beta TG) by radioimmunoassay provided a new tool to obtain knowledge of in vivo platelet activation. We evaluated the plasma level of PF4 and beta TG in 14 normal subjects (mean PF4 7.7 ng/ml; beta TG 28.8 ng/ml), in 29 patients with chronic stable cardiovascular disorders (mean PF4 9.8 ng/ml; beta TG 32.6 ng/ml) and in 15 diabetics with vascular disease (mean PF4 14.5 ng/ml; beta TG 41.8 ng/ml). The great majority had normal values and no statistical differences were noted among the three groups (p greater than 0.05). Fifteen days of treatment with 150 mg daily of dipyridamole produced a significant reduction in the levels of both proteins (p less than 0.01), in contrast of the daily administration of 650 mg of aspirin, which failed to produce any significant change (p greater than 0.5). The patients and the normal subjects were also administered 3,000 USP units intravenously of porcine heparin. The values of the heparin released-platelet factor 4 (HR-PF4), evaluated 5 minutes after the injection, showed a good correlation between platelet concentration and HR-PF4 levels (z = 2.37, p less than 0.02) in the patients. The determination of standard residual following linear regression analysis of HR-PF4 indicated the presence of two distinct patient populations. One group, including the vast majority of patients, did not differ from the control (patients mean HR-PF4 111.1 ng/ml; controls: mean HF-PF4 136 ng/ml). The other group, with severe cardiovascular disease, but with normal levels of PF4 and beta TG in almost all patients and similar platelet concentrations, showed a significantly higher HR-PF4 (219 ng/ml). Neither aspirin nor dipyridamole had any effect on the level of HR-PF4. This HR-PF4 could represent a possible marker of the interaction of platelets with a seriously damaged atherosclerotic vessel wall.

Adult↗