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Biomedical subjects

C A Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to C A Taylor.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1999

Intakes of vitamin C, vegetables and fruits: which schoolchildren are at risk?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine vitamin C intakes among American schoolchildren. We investigated the leading sources of vitamin C in children's diets, the leading vegetables and fruits consumed by children and differences in dietary intake associated with vitamin C consumption. METHODS: Data from 1,350 7- to 12-year-old and 908 13- to 18-year-old schoolchildren were obtained from the 1994-1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII). The children were stratified by age and gender and then split into three vitamin C consumption groups based upon two 24-hour recalls: low (0 to 30.0 mg), marginal (30.1 to 59.9 mg), and desirable (>60.0 mg). Data were analyzed by tabulation and by ANOVA followed by post hoc Scheffe's test. Outcome measures included food groups and energy-adjusted intakes of micro- and macronutrients. RESULTS: Among the 7- to 12-year-olds, 12% of boys and 13% of girls had mean vitamin C intakes that were less than 30 mg/day, and, among 13- to 18-year-olds, 14% of boys and 20% of girls had low vitamin C intakes. In addition to consuming significantly more vitamin C, children with desirable vitamin C intakes also consumed significantly more (p <0.001) energy-adjusted folate and vitamin B6; children with low vitamin C intakes tended to have significantly greater (p <0.001) energy-adjusted intakes of fat and saturated fat. Children with desirable vitamin C intakes consumed significantly more (p <0.006) high-vitamin C fruit juice, low-vitamin C vegetables and whole milk. Children with low vitamin C intakes on average consumed two daily servings of vegetables and fruits, of which less than 1/5 of a serving was citrus, while children with desirable vitamin C intakes consumed an average of one daily serving of citrus. CONCLUSIONS: A considerable number of children drastically under-consumed vitamin C and total vegetables and fruits. Overall, children with desirable vitamin C intakes had healthier diets, including more milk and vegetables, than did their peers with low vitamin C intakes. Health care professionals should continue to promote at least five daily servings of vegetables and fruits and should advise parents that at least one of these should be rich in vitamin C.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Pharmacokinetics of quinupristin-dalfopristin in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients.

Quinupristin-dalfopristin may be useful for treatment of organisms causing peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis, including methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. The pharmacokinetic profiles of single intravenous doses of this combination streptogramin antibiotic of 7.5 mg/kg of body weight were characterized for eight noninfected patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Comparison was made to pharmacokinetic profiles determined for eight healthy volunteers matched by age, sex, and race. Drug was measured in dialysate up to 6 h following the dose. Plasma and dialysate were assayed for parent compounds and metabolites. Mean pharmacokinetic parameters were compared between groups. No statistically significant differences were observed between groups for maximal concentrations in plasma, times to maximal concentration, areas under the curve, distribution volumes, rates of total body clearance, or half-lives in plasma for quinupristin and dalfopristin. No statistically significant differences were observed in maximal concentrations in plasma, times to maximal concentration, areas under the curve, or half-lives for cysteine, the glutathione conjugates of quinupristin, or the pristinamycin IIA metabolite of dalfopristin. The measurements in dialysate of the parent and most metabolites were below the expected MICs. Dialysis clearance was insignificant. Quinupristin-dalfopristin was well tolerated in both groups, causing only mild adverse events that resolved prior to discharge from the study. The disposition of quinupristin, dalfopristin, or their primary metabolites following a single dose was unaltered in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis. Intravenous dosing of this antibiotic combination is unlikely to be adequate for the treatment of peritonitis associated with peritoneal dialysis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Evaluating residency applicants: stable values in a changing market.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: A 1994 study found significant differences in the way family practice and OB-GYN residency directors ranked the importance of components of the residency application package. Family practice residency directors favored qualitative measures (dean's letter, personal statement), and OB-GYN residency directors favored quantitative measures (transcripts, National Board of Medical Examiners score). The authors of the 1994 study hypothesized that the differences could be attributed to specialty competitiveness and philosophy. Our study reexamined family practice rankings of these same application components to determine if the programs, with increased competition for residency positions, had changed their values. METHODS: We surveyed all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-approved residency directors, using the core questions from the 1994 study, plus 2 additional questions. RESULTS: The component rankings in 1997 were virtually identical to the rankings in 1994. The new variables, computed to identify competitiveness, failed to elicit any meaningful or consistent differences. CONCLUSIONS: Program directors have remained relatively stable in favoring the qualitative aspects of the application package, ranking the dean's letter and personal statement consistently in the top 3 positions. This stability is found across time and independent of success in the National Resident Matching Program and number of US graduate applicants. Residency directors have not increased their reliance on quantitative measures.

Career Choice↗
PubMed1998

Ultraviolet radiation induced suppression of Mantoux reactions in humans.

The effects of low dose ultraviolet (UV) radiation on delayed type hypersensitivity responses to tuberculin purified protein derivative were investigated in 17 healthy, Mantoux-positive volunteers. Suberythemal and erythemal doses of solar simulated UV from a fluorescent lamp source were delivered to the subjects' lower backs daily for five consecutive days. Mantoux testing with intradermally injected purified protein derivative was then performed at both the irradiated sites and an adjacent, unirradiated site, and the Mantoux induced erythema was quantitated 72 h later with a reflectance erythema meter. In comparison with the unirradiated Mantoux sites, Mantoux induced erythema was significantly reduced at the irradiated test sites. In six subjects, we compared the effects of chronic versus short term UV irradiation on the Mantoux reaction. These volunteers were irradiated on one side of their lower backs with the 5 d UV protocol, and on the other side of their backs for 4 or 5 wk. In all but one subject, the short irradiation protocol induced greater suppression of Mantoux responses than prolonged UV exposure. We conclude that even suberythemal doses of UV significantly reduce delayed type hypersensitivity responses to purified protein derivative, and that an adaptive mechanism appears to counteract the immunosuppressive effects of chronic irradiation.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

The Orct gene of Drosophila melanogaster codes for a putative organic cation transporter with six or 12 transmembrane domains.

Mutations at the lemming (lmg) locus of Drosophila melanogaster cause apoptotic cell death in dividing imaginal cells. Genomic DNA flanking the P element insertion corresponding to the lmg allele lmg03424 has been cloned and found to give rise to multiple transcripts. Several cDNA clones corresponding to this genomic region were isolated and shown to differ due to alternative splicing. The complete nucleotide sequences of two of the longest cDNAs were determined and found to encode proteins with similarity to mammalian organic cation transporter (OCT) proteins. One cDNA potentially encodes a protein with six transmembrane (TM) domains, corresponding to the N-terminal half of a mammalian OCT protein, whereas the other cDNA potentially encodes a protein with 12 TM domains, corresponding to the complete mammalian OCT protein. The gene giving rise to these alternative transcripts has been named Organic cation transporter-like (Orct). The previously identified Acer gene (Taylor, C.A.M., Coates, D., Shirras, A.D., 1996. The Acer gene of Drosophila codes for an angiotensin-converting enzyme homologue. Gene 181, 191 197) appears to lie within an intron of the Orct gene.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Long-term impact of Huntington disease linkage testing.

We performed a long-term follow-up of Huntington disease (HD) predictive testing (an average of 6 years post-test) for 16 of 20 people who received informative linkage test results. Although no pre-test or baseline psychological differences were noted between those with an increased versus a decreased risk of HD, the long-term impact was dramatically different in these two groups. The low-risk group reported less uncertainty, anxiety or worry, fear, and worry about children's risk, whereas the high-risk group reported either the same or increased concern in these areas. Those at low risk also acknowledged an increased sense of control and self-esteem, whereas those at high risk reported decreases or no changes. One high-risk individual reported chronic depression that had occurred since the testing. Additionally, those at low risk reported greater reliance and faith in spiritual or religious beliefs than those at high risk. The emotional impact of HD genetic testing justifies the continued utilization of pre- and post-test counseling protocols. Pre-test counseling should include discussion of the known risks and benefits of predictive testing, with special emphasis on the participant's expectations for future change and improvement. Although the psychological impact appears mostly favorable for those with decreased risk, there is risk for a decline in psychological well-being over time for those with an increased risk for HD.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Intracerebral versus subcutaneous immunization with allogeneic fibroblasts genetically engineered to secrete interleukin-2 in the treatment of central nervous system glioma and melanoma.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal route of delivery of gene therapy for an intracerebral (IC) tumor. In previous studies, treatment of an IC tumor with the IC administration of a cellular vaccine consisting of allogeneic fibroblasts genetically engineered to secrete cytokines prolonged survival. Systemic delivery of gene therapy is of significant clinical interest. METHODS: In this study, allogeneic fibroblasts engineered to secrete interleukin (IL)-2 (LM-IL-2 cells) were administered either subcutaneously or intracerebrally to C57BL/6 mice with IC glioma. In addition, fibroblasts genetically engineered to express (antibody-defined) melanoma-associated antigens and to secrete IL-2 (RLBA-IL-2) were injected either intracerebrally or subcutaneously into mice bearing IC melanoma. RESULTS: The results indicate a significant prolongation of survival in mice with IC glioma treated intracerebrally with LM-IL-2 cells, relative to the survival of mice with IC glioma treated subcutaneously with LM-IL-2 cells or untreated mice with glioma. The specific release of isotope from 51Cr-labeled glioma cells coincubated with spleen cells from animals treated either subcutaneously or intracerebrally with LM-IL-2 cells was significantly greater than the release of isotope from glioma cells coincubated with spleen cells from nonimmunized mice. In a similar fashion, the survival of mice with IC B16 melanoma immunized intracerebrally with RLBA-IL-2 cells was significantly longer than nonimmunized mice injected with B16 cells alone. In contrast, the survival of mice with IC melanoma treated by subcutaneous injection with RLBA-IL-2 cells was not significantly different than that of untreated mice. Using a 51Cr-release assay, the specific release of isotope from labeled B16 cells coincubated with spleen cells from mice immunized either intracerebrally or subcutaneously with RLBA-IL-2 cells was significantly higher than that of B16 cells coincubated with cells from nonimmunized mice. CONCLUSIONS: Direct IC administration of fibroblasts genetically engineered to secrete IL-2 was more effective in prolonging survival than peripheral subcutaneous administration in the treatment of mice with IC glioma or melanoma.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Establishing a nurse-managed wellness clinic in a predominantly older African American inner-city high rise: an advanced practice nursing project.

With funding from a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development contract awarded to a private university, advanced practice nurse faculty established a nurse-managed wellness clinic in an apartment building populated by predominantly African American older people. Ethnographic methods were used to ensure culturally competent care. The clinic provided nursing, pharmacy, and health sciences faculty and students with community-focused clinical experiences as interdisciplinary team members.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1997

Advice from affected persons about living with human papillomavirus infection.

PURPOSE: To describe the "advice or information" people who have had HPV for one year would give to the newly diagnosed. DESIGN: Descriptive. POPULATION, SAMPLE: The population was persons with HPV. A convenience sample of 61 women and 27 men, mean age 23.8 years, was recruited from 4 clinics in one midwestern U.S.A. city between 1990 and 1993. METHODS: Participants answered an open-ended question about the advice and information they would give to newly diagnosed persons. Content analysis was done. FINDINGS: Six major areas of advice were provided including keeping a balanced perspective, getting treatment, sexual behavior, knowledge, self-care, and other. A high percent of advice from women was to keep a balanced perspective on life. A high percent of the advice from men focused on sexual behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Advice covered a variety of topics touching on many aspects of daily life, not simply disease control and sexual behavior. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Practitioners should carefully explore their clients' reactions to the diagnosis of HPV and address the sensitive emotional elements entailed.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1997

The opinions and experiences of family physicians regarding direct-to-consumer advertising.

BACKGROUND: The use of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) by pharmaceutical companies is increasing. Our study examines the opinions and experiences of family physicians concerning DTCA. METHODS: A survey instrument designed to elicit the opinions, experiences, and perceptions of family physicians about DTCA was sent to a 2% (N = 880) systematic sampling of active physician members of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze responses with t tests and chi 2 tests for independence used to examine subgroup response differences. RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-four (52%) physicians responded to the survey. Most physicians (95%) had encountered DTCA personally, and had been approached by an average of 7 patients over the previous 6 months with requests for specific prescription drugs. Prescription antihistamines and antihypertensive drugs were the most commonly requested. Overall, 80% of the physician respondents believed that print DTCA was not a good idea, while 84% expressed negative feelings about television and radio advertising. Both groups cited "misleading biased view" and "increased costs" as the most common disadvantages. Some reported benefits included "better informed patients" and "promoting physician-patient communication." CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the study group physicians had negative feelings about DTCA in both print and electronic media. Studies directly examining patient perspectives, as well as cost benefits, are necessary to test the validity of the physicians' perceptions about DTCA.

Advertising↗
PubMed1997

The advanced practice nurse role in implementing and evaluating two nurse-managed wellness clinics: lessons learned about structure, process, and outcomes.

By the year 2000, the baby boom generation will be reaching its sixth decade and 34 million U.S. citizens will be over the age of 65. One strategy for promoting healthy aging is having older persons participate in health promotion programs. Nurse-managed wellness clinics (NMWCs) staffed by advanced practice nurses (APNs) offer an option for health promotion among older individuals. This article describes the APN role in implementing and evaluating two NMWCs for older people living in urban, high-rise apartment buildings subsidized by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lessons learned about structure, process, and outcomes in a community-based wellness center are identified and discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

The Acer gene of Drosophila codes for an angiotensin-converting enzyme homologue.

Mammalian angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) exists as two forms, somatic (sACE), controlling blood pressure via angiotensin II, and testicular (tACE), whose function is unknown. The former has two highly homologous N- and C-terminal Zn2+ metallopeptidase active sites, whereas the latter only has one, which is identical to the C-terminal domain of sACE. We have sequenced 2452 bases of a 3.1-kb mRNA whose predicted translation product shows 40% identity with mammalian testicular ACE, and 48% identity with an already identified Drosophila homologue of ACE (Ance). We have termed this gene Acer (Angiotensin converting enzyme-related). Acer mRNA is found in the developing dorsal vessel (heart) during embryogenesis. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that duplication of an ancestral ACE gene occurred in the lineage leading to the arthropods, independently of the duplication which gave rise to the two domain somatic ACE of mammals.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Clinical pharmacokinetics during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has gained recognition worldwide as an alternative to haemodialysis in the management of patients with end-stage renal disease. Because the peritoneal catheter provides direct access to the peritoneum, intraperitoneal drug administration has become widely used for the administration of certain drugs. The instillation and drainage of PD fluids contribute to the total body clearance of drugs given by other routes. For most drugs, peritoneal clearance is low. This paper provides an updated review of recently published pharmacokinetic studies involving the administration of selected drugs to patients receiving PD. Antibiotics continue to be extensively studied and administered in PD patients because of the frequent occurrence of infections. Epoetin (recombinant human erythropoietin) has become widely used and is the subject of ongoing pharmacokinetic investigation. Intraperitoneal insulin has become accepted for the treatment of patients with diabetes receiving PD; the pharmacokinetics of vitamin D analogues in PD patients continue to be explored.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Bone marrow engraftment following unrelated donor transplantation utilizing busulfan and cyclophosphamide preparatory chemotherapy.

Two major problems of unrelated donor transplantation have been an increased incidence of GVHD and graft failure. Even with HLA identity by microlymphocytotoxicity assay and non-reactive MLC, URD marrow transplant recipients have a higher incidence of graft rejection and GVHD. The preparative regimen busulfan 16 mg/kg and cyclophosphamide 120 mg/kg (BuCy2) has been shown to be at least as effective in preparation of recipients with CML of HLA-identical sibling grafts as cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation (Cy/TBI). However, concern about a high rejection rate in URD transplants has prevented most centers from using BuCy2 in this setting. From March 1990 to March 1994, 26 patients underwent URD transplantation following preparation with BuCy2. Patients received either standard cyclosporine and methotrexate or cyclosporine and methylprednisolone for GVHD prophylaxis. Two patients died on day 16 and 20 without evidence of hematopoietic engraftment. Of the 24 patients evaluable for engraftment, 23 (96%) had evidence of donor engraftment defined as an ANC > 0.5 x 10(9)/1. No patient who had initial engraftment had late graft failure. Within our study group the risk of graft rejection or graft failure does not appear to be higher than that reported for URD transplants utilizing TBI-containing regimens.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

The role of office-based procedures in family practice residency training.

BACKGROUND: Fifteen years ago, the American Board of Family Practice determined the need for a procedural "core" list requirement for residency training. Program directors at that time could not reach a consensus about a specific list of procedures. This study examined the current attitudes of residency directors about a core list of office-based procedures required for residency training. METHODS: A questionnaire was designed to elicit general information about attitudes toward establishing a core requirement of office-based procedures. The program directors were asked to select from a list of 35 office-based procedures those they felt should be required. The questionnaire was mailed to all 421 US family practice residency directors. RESULTS: The response rate was 78%. Of responding directors, 68% favored a core list requirement. Eleven out of 35 procedures received at least 80% consensus by those directors favoring a core list requirement. Programs situated in rural areas were more likely to oppose the core list requirement. Geographic region of the residency program impacted on the number of core procedures respondents felt residents should master in their training. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of residency directors who responded believe that the potential advantages of a core list requirement outweigh the potential disadvantages. The directors approximated consensus (80% agreement) on seven procedures across all geographic regions. With this evidence in mind, it would seem appropriate for the governing bodies of family practice to reexamine the core procedure issue.

Ambulatory Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1995

The process of resident selection: a view from the residency director's desk.

In 1992, the Executive Council of the Association of American Medical Colleges recommended that a computerized application system be investigated. Under this system, the application package would include: 1) a standardized application form, 2) a personal statement, 3) a dean's letter, 4) transcripts, 5) a chairman's letter, and 6) United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores. To investigate the value residency directors placed on these items, all directors from Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education--approved residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology and family practice residency programs were surveyed. The directors were asked to prioritize the usefulness of the proposed components of the Electronic Residency Application Service application package. Transcripts, the dean's letter, and USMLE scores ranked highest (in descending order) for the obstetrics and gynecology residency directors for making decisions about "inviting a student for an interview," whereas the dean's letter, personal statement, and transcripts ranked highest for the family practice residency directors. Both ranked the interview as most valuable in ranking a student in the residency match. Although these two disciplines do not represent all fields, our study indicates that residency programs are not homogeneous in their value systems and that certain characteristics may predict those values.

Decision Making↗
PubMed1995

Heparin-induced endothelial cell cytoskeletal reorganization: a potential mechanism for vascular relaxation.

We have previously shown that heparin given subcutaneously on a daily basis lowers blood pressure in hypertensive rat models, and that this blood pressure lowering effect is endothelium-dependent. The present study describes the effects of heparin on endothelial cell (EC) apical surface structures and cytoskeletal elements, namely, actin and vimentin as well as EC proliferative activity. The EC line (CRL 1998) was cultured, treated with different concentrations of heparin (0, 50, 100, 500 U/ml) for 4, 24 or 48 hours, and fixed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM) studies. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and flow cytometric analysis were performed on EC monolayers treated with different concentrations of heparin for quantitative detection of actin and vimentin. By SEM study the cell surface showed generalized smoothing as a result of blunting of surface microvilli with increasing time of exposure and dosage of heparin. By IFM study, the detectable actin signal within ECs became progressively reduced in both its cellular distribution and the apparent number of cells that remained reactive. By 48 hr/500 U heparin, the actin signal was almost undetectable. Vimentin showed a moderate reduction in the cellular distribution of labeling. Quantitatively, actin was significantly reduced after the 24 hour treatment with a higher dose of heparin (500 U/ml), from a baseline optical density (OD) of 1.12 +/- 0.060 to 0.866 +/- 0.008 (P < 0.0027). After 48 hours of treatment at both 100 U/ml and 500 U/ml heparin, actin was significantly reduced from a baseline OD of 1.347 +/- 0.063 to 1.090 +/- 0.039 (P < 0.0039) and 0.844 +/- 0.074 (P < 0.008), respectively. However, vimentin was significantly reduced only after 48 hours of treatment with a high dose of heparin (500 U/ml), from baseline OD 1.82 +/- 0.052 to 1.41 +/- 0.004 (P < 0.002). The flow cytometric findings were virtually identical to the ELISA data for actin and vimentin. These qualitative and quantitative changes in actin and vimentin are consistent with apparent smoothing and relaxation of the EC's apical surface. Labeling with the cell cycle marker MIB-1 (monoclonal antibody Ki-67), showed a progressive reduction in the observed intensity in heparin treated cells with substantially fewer cells being positive. After a 48 hour treatment with heparin (500 U/ml), most ECs displayed only dim labeling of the nucleolus. This finding is consistent with an antiproliferative effect. Overall, these findings are additive to our previous observations, and demonstrate that heparin causes EC cytoskeletal reorganization which is a potential mechanism for vascular relaxation.

Cytoskeleton↗