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Biomedical subjects

A Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to A Taylor.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

One-year follow-up of opiate injectors treated with oral methadone in a GP-centred programme.

AIMS: To examine changes in drug-related behaviour in opiate-dependent injectors treated with oral methadone, in a shared care scheme where consumption of the daily dose is usually supervised by a community pharmacist. DESIGN: One-year cohort study. SETTING: Recruitment from the main routes into methadone prescribing in Glasgow during 1996: General Practitioner Drug Misuse Clinic Scheme and the Drug Problem Service. PARTICIPANTS: Current opiate injectors entering methadone treatment. FINDINGS: Among the 204 injectors recruited, 148 (73%) were re-interviewed at 6 months and 118 (58%) at both 6 and 12 months. Twenty-nine per cent of the cohort remained continuously on methadone for 12 months. In that group, over the 12-month period, self-reported daily opiate injecting reduced from 78% to 2%; overdose in the previous 6 months from 24% to 2%; mean daily drug spend from 50 Pounds to 4 Pounds; and mean monthly number of acquisitive crimes reduced from 13 to three. Assuming participants lost to follow-up were unchanged, significant improvements in the total cohort were seen in daily opiate injecting (from 80% at recruitment to 43% at 12 months), overdose (from 27% to 15%), mean daily drug spend (from 63 Pounds to 38 Pounds) and mean monthly number of acquisitive crimes (from 18 to 11). Discontinuation of treatment was mainly due to imprisonment (39%) or sanctions by the prescriber (33%). CONCLUSION: Treatment of opiate-dependent drug injectors with methadone in a community-wide general practitioner-centred scheme, with supervised daily consumption, was associated with major beneficial change for a substantial proportion of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Membrane fusion by proline-rich Rz1 lipoprotein, the bacteriophage lambda Rz1 gene product.

The fusogenic properties of Rz1, the proline-rich lipoprotein that is the bacteriophage lambda Rz1 gene product, were studied. Light scattering was used to monitor Rz1-induced aggregation of artificial neutral (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol) and negatively charged (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/cholesterol/dioleoylphosphatidylserin e) liposomes. Fluorescence assays [the resonance energy transfer between N-(7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazol-4-yl)phosphatidylethanolamine and N-(lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl)dihexadecanol-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine lipid fluorescent probes, as well as fluorescent complex formation between terbium ions and dipicolinic acid encapsulated in two liposome populations and calcein fluorescence] were used to monitor Rz1-induced lipid mixing, contents mixing and leakage of neutral and negatively charged liposomes. The results demonstrated that Rz1 caused adhesion of neutral and negatively charged liposomes with concomitant lipid mixing; membrane distortion, leading to the fusion of liposomes and hence their internal content mixing; and local destruction of the membrane accompanied by leakage of the liposome contents. The use of artificial membranes showed that Rz1 induced the fusion of membranes devoid of any proteins. This might mean that the proline stretch of Rz1 allowed interaction with membrane lipids. It is suggested that Rz1-induced liposome fusion was mediated primarily by the generation of local perturbation in the bilayer lipid membrane and to a lesser extent by electrostatic forces.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among injecting drug users in Glasgow 1990-1996: are current harm reduction strategies working?

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of HCV antibodies among injecting drug users and to gauge the effectiveness of needle/syringe exchange in preventing the transmission of HCV infection. METHODS: Between 1990-1994 and in 1996, annual cross-sectional surveys of injecting drug users in Glasgow were conducted. In order to ensure as representative a sample as possible, the 1949 respondents were recruited from both 'in-treatment' and 'out-of treatment' settings. Injectors were interviewed about their risk behaviours for blood-borne viruses and provided a saliva sample which was initially tested, anonymously, for HIV antibodies, and subsequently tested for hepatitis C infection. RESULTS: Among 1949 injectors, the prevalence of salivary antibodies, indicative of hepatitis C viraemia, was 61%(95%, confidence interval (CI) 59%-63%): the estimated prevalence of serum antibody positivity was 72%. Length of injecting, year of commencing drug injecting and the number of times in prison were predictive of antibody positivity. Thirty-one per cent of injectors who commenced their injecting after 1992, following the full establishment of needle/syringe exchange in the city, were salivary antibody positive, and the majority of their infections were acquired outside the prison setting. Respondents who began injecting after the introduction of needle/syringe exchange in the city were significantly less likely to test HCV antibody positive than those who commenced injecting prior to the advent of needle/syringe exchange, after adjusting for length of injecting career. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of HCV among injectors in Glasgow has decreased during the era of needle/syringe exchange. However, there is evidence to suggest that the incidence of infection remains high. Since the prevalence of hepatitis C viraemia among the city's injecting population is extremely high, ongoing transmission is inevitable unless more effective interventions are identified and implemented urgently.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Fat cat(aract)

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2000

A normal livebirth after intracytoplasmic sperm injection for globozoospermia without assisted oocyte activation: case report.

The successful outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with round-headed spermatozoa (globozoospermia) is reported. A couple with infertility secondary to globozoospermia received ICSI treatment. Fertilization, cleavage and pregnancy outcomes were recorded. This couple experienced 40, 10 and 42% fertilization rates after ICSI in their first, second and third cycles respectively. Pregnancy did not occur in the first or second cycle but was successfully achieved after the third ICSI cycle. It is concluded that current ICSI procedures may overcome the infertility associated with globozoospermia and result in normal healthy livebirth without assisted oocyte activation.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and its effect on renal function in a renal transplant patient undergoing IVF treatment: case report.

Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in a renal transplant patient undergoing assisted conception treatment is reported. A couple with infertility secondary to tubal blockage and pelvic endometriosis received IVF treatment. Ovarian enlargement secondary to OHSS resulted in obstruction in the transplanted kidney and deterioration of renal function. No other systemic manifestations of OHSS were evident. Conservative management was successful and a twin live birth was later achieved by replacement of two frozen-thawed embryos.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Neighborhood deprivation affects children's mental health: environmental risks identified in a genetic design.

The possibility that neighborhood conditions affect children's development has captured much attention because of its implications for prevention. But does growing up in deprived neighborhoods matter above and beyond a genetic liability to behavior problems, if genetically vulnerable families tend to concentrate in poor neighborhoods? A nationwide study of 2-year-old twins shows that children in deprived neighborhoods were at increased risk for emotional and behavioral problems over and above any genetic liability. Environmental factors shared by members of a family accounted for 20% of the population variation in children's behavior problems, and neighborhood deprivation accounted for 5% of this family-wide environmental effect. The results suggest that the link between poor neighborhoods and children's mental health may be a true environmental effect, and demonstrate that genetic designs are environmentally informative and can be used to identify modifiable risk factors for promoting child health.

Affective Symptoms↗
PubMed2000

Infectious health care workers: should patients be told?

The risk of transmission of HIV or hepatitis B from infectious health care workers to patients is low. However, inadvertent exposure causes great concern amongst patients of an infected health care worker. The patients of a Scottish dentist diagnosed hepatitis B e antigen positive were informed by letter of their exposure. A sample of patients was sent a postal questionnaire. Most (56%) respondents reported feeling anxious on receiving the letter but almost all (93%) thought patients should always be informed following treatment by an infectious health care worker, although the risk was very small. We discuss clinical and ethical factors relating to informing patients following exposure to an infectious health care worker. We suggest that a balance should be struck between patients' wishes to know of risks to which they have been exposed, however small, and the professional view that when risks are negligible, patients need not be informed.

Anxiety↗
PubMed2000

Urinary retention in patients with BPH treated with finasteride or placebo over 4 years. Characterization of patients and ultimate outcomes. The PLESS Study Group.

OBJECTIVES: Knowledge regarding the incidence and prevalence of acute urinary retention and the ultimate outcome is very limited. The purpose of the present analysis was to document the natural history and outcomes of acute urinary retention (AUR) further specified as being either precipitated or spontaneous, and to evaluate the potential benefit of finasteride therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three thousand and forty men with moderate to severe symptoms of BPH and enlarged prostate glands by digital rectal examination were enrolled into the 4-year placebo-controlled PLESS trial and were evaluated for occurrences of AUR and BPH-related surgery. Men in the study were seen every 4 months; discontinued patients were followed up 6 months after discontinuation and again at the end of the 4-year trial. Complete 4-year data on outcomes (occurrence of AUR or BPH-related surgery) was available for 92% of the enrolled subjects in each treatment group. An endpoint committee, blinded to treatment group and center, reviewed and categorized all study-related documentation relating to retention and surgery. RESULTS: Over the 4-year period, 99 of 1,503 placebo-treated patients (6.6%) experienced one or more episodes of AUR in comparison with 42 or 1,513 finasteride-treated patients (2.8%; p<0. 001). Approximately half of the episodes of retention were spontaneous and clearly BPH-related, while the other episodes were precipitated by another factor (PAUR). After spontaneous AUR, subsequent surgery was performed in 39 of 52 (75%) placebo-treated patients versus 8 of 20 (40%) finasteride-treated patients (p = 0. 01). BPH-related surgery was less common in men who had a prior episode of PAUR (26% in the placebo group and 14% in the finasteride group). CONCLUSION: There is a continual risk of spontaneous and precipitated acute urinary retention in men with moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms and an enlarged prostate gland. Fewer patients who developed precipitated AUR than spontaneous AUR go on to need subsequent BPH-related surgery. Significantly fewer finasteride-than placebo-treated patients developed AUR, and among those men, fewer ultimately needed BPH-related surgery.

Finasteride↗
PubMed2000

Immunogenicity of antigens in boiled alginate microspheres.

Vaccine efficacy can be enhanced by delivery of antigens in synthetic microspheres. The process of antigen incorporation into microspheres can expose fragile antigens to damaging conditions, such as high temperatures, and to bacterial contamination. Maintenance of immunogenicity of several antigens and reduction of bacterial load in alginate microspheres following boiling was evaluated. Mice were immunized subcutaneously, initially and again 21 days later, with either non-boiled or boiled microspheres containing ovalbumin (OVA), a culture supernatant vaccine of Pasteurella haemolytica (PHV), or a potassium thiocyanate extract of P. multocida (PTE). Serum samples were obtained prior to immunization and at the time of euthanasia 28 days later. Culture of microspheres showed that boiling completely eliminated aerobic bacterial growth for OVA-containing microspheres, and reduced growth by a factor of 10(4) for PTE microspheres. More bacteria were cultured after boiling than before for PHV microspheres. ELISA performed on serum and intestinal lamina propria explant supernatants showed that immunogenicity of PHV microspheres was not altered by boiling. Boiled OVA microspheres were still able to stimulate a significant serum IgG anti-OVA titer in mice, but boiled PTE microspheres completely lacked immunogenicity. Elispot assays of spleens showed that only PHV microspheres were able to retain immunogenicity after boiling. Results indicate that boiling is not an effective means for reducing the bacterial load of alginate microspheres and that the process is associated with a diminution of vaccine immunogenicity.

Alginates↗
PubMed2000

Extent and contributing factors of drug expenditure of injectors in Glasgow. Multi-site city-wide cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Recent concern about drug use has focused attention on the illegal income generated by users. AIMS: To investigate factors associated with drugs expenditure and to estimate the cost of illegal acquisitions used to pay for drugs. METHOD: We collected self-report data from 954 current injectors, interviewed at multiple street, needle/syringe exchange and drug treatment sites throughout Glasgow. RESULTS: Injectors' mean weekly drug spending was 324 Pounds. The mean annual illegal drugs spend was estimated to be 11,000 Pounds per injector. We provide a central estimate--194 million Pounds per annum--of the retail value of goods acquired illegally by injectors in Glasgow in order to pay for drugs. Higher drug spends were associated with having been imprisoned more often and with those reporting acquisitive crime, drug dealing and prostitution. Treatment with methadone, among individuals who injected in the previous two months, was associated with a 20% reduction in a typical spend on drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment effectiveness needs to be measured both in terms of health benefit and in terms of reduction in drugs expenditure and recidivism.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Deficient bone formation in idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis: a histomorphometric study of cancellous iliac bone.

Idiopathic juvenile osteoporosis (IJO), a rare cause of osteoporosis in children, is characterized by the occurrence of vertebral and metaphyseal fractures. Little is known about the histopathogenesis of IJO. We analyzed by quantitative histomorphometry iliac crest biopsies from 9 IJO patients (age, 10.0-12.3 years; 7 girls) after tetracycline labeling. Results were compared with identically processed samples from 12 age-matched children without metabolic bone disease and 11 patients with osteogenesis imperfecta type I. Compared with healthy controls, cancellous bone volume (BV) was markedly decreased in IJO patients (mean [SD]: 10.0% [3.1%] vs. 24.4% [3.8%]), because of a 34% reduction in trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and a 37% lower trabecular number (Tb.N; p < 0.0001 each; unpaired t-test). Bone formation rate (BFR) per bone surface was decreased to 38% of the level in controls (p = 0.0006). This was partly caused by decreased recruitment of remodeling units, as shown by a trend toward lower activation frequency (54% of the control value; p = 0.08). Importantly, osteoblast team performance also was impaired, as evidenced by a decreased wall thickness (W.Th; 70% of the control value; p < 0.0001). Reconstruction of the formative sites revealed that osteoblast team performance was abnormally low even before mineralization started at a given site. No evidence was found for increased bone resorption. Compared with children with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), IJO patients had a similarly decreased cancellous BV but a much lower bone turnover. These results suggest a pathogenetic model for IJO, in which impaired osteoblast team performance decreases the ability of cancellous bone to adapt to the increasing mechanical needs during growth. This will finally result in load failure at sites where cancellous bone is essential for stability.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed2000

Capture and immobilisation of aardvark (Orycteropus afer) using different drug combinations.

Nine aardvarks (Orycteropus afer) were captured in the southern Free State, South Africa, for the placement of abdominal radio transmitters. Five combinations of ketamine hydrochloride with xylazine hydrochloride, midazolam or medetomidine hydrochloride were used to induce anaesthesia. In some cases the level of anaesthesia was maintained with 1.5% halothane. A mixture of ketamine hydrochloride and medetomidine hydrochloride was found to be most effective. Atipamizole reversed the affects of medetomidine hydrochloride, resulting in a smooth and full recovery within 8 minutes. The immobilisation and subsequent anaesthesia of these animals on cold winter nights resulted in hypothermia, and keeping the animals warm was essential to the success of the procedures undertaken. Reversal of the sedative medetomidine hydrochloride proved to be important, because animals that were released before they were fully conscious took refuge in their burrows so that care was impossible.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed2000

Association between Streptococcus milleri and abscess formation after appendicitis.

Abscesses after appendicitis occur in some patients despite timely surgery and antibiotics. The Streptococcus milleri group of bacteria are commonly associated with gastrointestinal abscesses. This study investigated the relationship between S. milleri and abscess formation after appendicectomy a total of 301 patients (172 males, 129 females, median age 22 years) with appendicitis were identified retrospectively from the hospital PAS computer system who had an appendicectomy and peritoneal bacteriology swabs taken. All but one patient had prophylactic antibiotics. Patients were divided into three groups according to peritoneal bacteriology: group 1 (S. milleri +/- mixed faecal organisms, n = 61); group 2 (mixed faecal organisms, n = 126); and group 3 (sterile, n = 114). The chi squared and Student t-tests were used for statistical analysis. Thirteen (21%) of group 1 patients developed an intra-abdominal abscess compared with 4 (3%) in group 2 and 2 (1.7%) in group 3 (P < 0.0001). There was no difference in the prevalence of gangrenous or perforated appendicitis between groups 1 and 2 (56% versus 52%) but these worse forms of appendicitis were less common in group 3 (22%). Group 1 patients had a mean total hospital stay of 10 days versus 6 days for group 2 and 4 days for group 3 (P < 0.001). S. milleri was associated with a 7-fold increase in abscess formation after appendicectomy and a longer hospital stay. Antibiotic prophylaxis did not prevent this complication.

Abdominal Abscess↗