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Biomedical subjects

A Marshall

Publications and source records attributed to A Marshall.

125 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1969

Weight-reducing effect of diguanides in obese non-diabetic women.

A double-blind trial was carried out to assess the weight-reducing effect of the diguanides in 90 women with refractory obesity and normal oral glucose tolerance. The daily dosage of phenformin and metformin was increased at weekly intervals up to 300 mg. and 3 g. respectively, and patients were maintained at this dose or on the maximum they could tolerate without anorexia or other gastrointestinal side-effects. Seventy-seven completed the 16-week period of study. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean weight change of the control and the treated groups, but no difference between those treated by phenformin or metformin. The weight-losing influence of the diguanides appeared to be no longer significant after the twelfth week of treatment.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fibulin-2 exhibits high degree of variability, but no structural changes concordant with abdominal aortic aneurysms.

We used conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis and direct sequencing of PCR products to screen for mutations in the cDNA for fibulin-2, an extracellular matrix protein, from 11 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms and two controls. When compared with the published reference sequence, a total of 14 single-base sequence variations were detected. Seven of the changes were neutral in that they did not result in an amino acid substitution. There were five missense changes at sites not conserved between human and mouse, and two missense changes at sites conserved between human and mouse. All but two of the sequence variants studied were also present in an additional set of 102 control alleles analyzed. One of these two changes was a missense mutation, but it did not segregate with abdominal aortic aneurysms in the family, whilst the other change was neutral. In conclusion, fibulin-2 has a large number of sequence variations in comparison with our previous analyses of type III collagen, and these variations will be useful in association studies. There was an excellent overall agreement between direct sequencing of PCR-products and conformation sensitive gel electrophoresis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Worth vs Polarized four-dot test.

A direct comparison between the Worth four-dot (W4D) and Polarized four-dot (P4D) flashlights is reported in a randomized trial on 107 unselected patients greater than 2.5 years old. The primary outcome variable was the interpretable response rate. Secondary outcomes were response time and age of test failure. There were 29 patients who failed to complete the W4D test, but only 10 patients who could not complete the P4D test, giving interpretable response rates of 73% and 91%, respectively (p < .001). The P4D test was found to be less dissociative and easier to administer. It also had a higher detection rate for fusion. We recommend its use as a tool in the clinical evaluation of binocular sensorial states.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A two-year clinical study of the effects of two triphasic oral contraceptives on plasma lipids.

OBJECTIVE: Oral contraceptive formulations can alter plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels; however, lower-dose triphasic tablets show only minimal metabolic effects during 6 or 12 cycles of use. Involvement of lipids in chronic cardiovascular conditions, plus long-term use of oral contraceptive tablets, prompted this first 24-cycle study of the effect of triphasic formulations on young women. METHODS: 69 women assigned randomly to an ethinyl estradiol/levonorgestrel formulation (Triphasil) or an ethinyl estradiol/norethindrone formulation (Ortho 7/7/7) and 25 control women (no hormonal contraception) had blood sampled for lipids and lipoproteins pre-trial, and at 3- or 6-cycle intervals for 24 cycles. RESULTS: At cycle 24, control women experienced no significant change from baseline in any variable except apolipoprotein B (apo B). Plasma apo B increased 42% (P < .01), reflecting the LDL apo B increase (42%, P < .01). Both combination formulations significantly increased apo B (plasma, VLDL, IDL and LDL); the increases ranged between 47% and 84%. Plasma apo A1 rose (15%, P < .001) in the Ortho 7/7/7 group only. Plasma and LDL triglycerides were increased significantly (P < .001) by the norethindrone product, 43% and 81%, respectively, and plasma and LDL cholesterol, 14% and 28%, respectively. Cholesterol decreased in all other subfractions, including HDL (11%, P < .01). HDL cholesterol decreased significantly in the Triphasil group (8%, P < .05); no other cholesterol subfractions changed significantly. All cycle-24 lipid and lipoprotein values remained well within respective normal ranges. CONCLUSION: Although 2-year exposure to the triphasic oral contraceptive formulations changed the lipid risk factors for cardiovascular disease only within normal ranges, there remains potential for long-term health effects when compounded with other risk factors.

Adolescent↗