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Biomedical subjects

D Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to D Taylor.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources
PubMed1987

Penicillin therapy of spontaneous streptococcal meningitis in pigs.

Oral prophylactic medication with either procaine penicillin G or a mixture of chlortetracycline, sulphadimidine and procaine penicillin G reduced the incidence of streptococcal meningitis in a herd of pigs with a high recorded prevalence of the disease, but to a significant extent (P less than 0.01) only in those pigs receiving procaine penicillin G. Subsequent studies showed that after oral administration of procaine penicillin G, benzylpenicillin was detectable in plasma only at very low concentration and similar results were obtained using the potassium salt of penicillin G. However, phenoxymethyl penicillin administered orally provided high plasma concentrations of this drug. A further investigation demonstrated that despite the low plasma concentrations of penicillin after oral administration of the procaine salt, gastrointestinal and urinary concentrations of the drug were relatively high for up to five hours.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1987

Ultrastructural localization of acetylcholinesterase in the synganglion of the tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say).

Light- and electron-microscopic enzyme cytochemistry was used to localize acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the synganglion (brain) of the tick Dermacentor variabilis. High AChE activity was observed throughout the neuropil as well as adjacent to most neuronal perikarya. Intracellular activity was not observed by light microscopy. By electron microscopy, reaction product was localized at the plasma membrane of glia and neurons. Enzyme activity was not associated with the olfactory globuli neurons. In other types of neurons, small amounts of reaction product were observed in the Golgi apparatus and nuclear envelope. Large neurosecretory neurons contained activity that appeared to be associated with deep invaginations of the plasma membrane as well as intracellular membranes. AChE activity was also associated with processes of both neurons and glia. In most peripheral nerves AChE activity was associated with virtually all axons. Clearly then, AChE is associated with glia and non-cholinergic neurons as well as with presumed cholinergic neurons. The widespread localization and large amounts of AChE in the tick brain exceeds that reported for other invertebrates and vertebrates. As has been suggested for other animals, AChE in the tick brain may have functions in addition to its known role in cholinergic neurotransmission.

Acetylcholinesterase↗
PubMed1987

Determination of minimum effective concentration of praziquantel in in vitro cultures of protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus.

The minimum effective concentration of praziquantel against protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus (ovine strain) was determined in vitro; 20 micrograms/litre gave statistically significant results. No difference was seen between the sensitivity of ovine and equine protoscoleces at 50 micrograms/litre. Morphological observations on treated protocsoleces and passage into gerbils both suggested that the eosin-exclusion technique overestimates viability. Electron microscopy of treated protoscoleces showed severe, disruptive tegumentary damage. Praziquantel is thus an extremely active protoscolicidal agent that may have an important peri-operative role in preventing recurrence.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Sensitivity and specificity of enzyme immunofiltration and DNA hybridization for the detection of HCMV-infected cells.

The sensitivity and specificity of enzyme immunofiltration and DNA hybridization were compared in human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) (AD 169)-infected MRC-5 cells. The enzyme immunofiltration was carried out on glass fiber filters in microplates, using an HCMV (AD 169) monoclonal antibody and a peroxidase conjugate. The DNA hybridization was carried out with a microfiltration apparatus, using a 32P-labelled HCMV (AD 169) Eco R1 D fragment probe. The sensitivities of enzyme immunofiltration and DNA hybridization were 1.82 X 10(3) and 1.13 X 10(3) infected cells, respectively. Both methods were highly specific, but enzyme immunofiltration was faster and simpler.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1987

Anaesthesia and intra-ocular pressure in young children. A study of three different techniques of anaesthesia.

This study compares the effects of three anaesthetic techniques on intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in infants and children: spontaneous ventilation using nitrous oxide with halothane (group 1) or isoflurane (group 2) and controlled ventilation with atracurium (group 3). The IOP remained constant in groups 1 and 2 until the administration of suxamethonium when it rose significantly; this rise was maintained during tracheal intubation. In group 3 IOP increased on administering atracurium and a further increase was seen during tracheal intubation. Diagnostic intra-ocular pressure measurements should be made during spontaneous breathing prior to tracheal intubation. The IOP was not directly affected by arterial blood pressure or by expired CO2 tension.

Anesthesia, Inhalation↗
PubMed1987

The effects of propranolol and metoprolol on skin blood flow in diabetic patients.

The effect of 2 weeks treatment with propranolol or metoprolol on skin blood flow (SBF) at rest was examined in 12 diabetic patients with essential hypertension in whom gross large vessel disease had been excluded. Neither drug significantly altered resting skin blood flow. However we cannot exclude an important difference between the two beta-adrenoceptor blockers because of the great variability of SBF within subjects. A larger study and/or more accurate methods of measuring SBF are needed to determine if beta 1-selective adrenoceptor antagonists differ from non-selective beta-adrenoceptor blockers with respect to skin blood flow.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Method of evaluating effects of antibiotics on bacterial biofilm.

Antibiotics are generally not effective against organisms in exopolysaccharide biofilms. A simple method of studying the effect of antibiotics on bacteria in established biofilms is reported. Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 cells grown overnight at 37 degrees C on Mueller-Hinton agar were suspended in buffer and dispensed on 0.5-cm2 catheter disks. The disks were incubated for 1 h at 37 degrees C, washed, transferred to petri dishes containing 20 ml of broth, and incubated at 37 degrees C for 20 to 22 h, at which time thick biofilms were established. Disks were washed, placed in broth or broth containing antibiotic, and incubated at 37 degrees C for 4 h. The disks were removed, and viable counts were determined. This process was repeated at other selected time intervals (e.g., 8 and 24 h). Viable bacterial counts decreased from 10(3) to 10(4) CFU/cm2 in 24 h with 400 micrograms of amdinocillin or cefamandole per ml. A combination containing 400 micrograms of each antibiotic per ml decreased the viable counts to an undetectable level (less than 100 CFU/cm2) in 24 h. Other antibiotics and organisms were also examined in this system.

Amdinocillin↗
PubMed1987

Double-blind crossover comparison of enoximone and placebo in patients with congestive heart failure.

The efficacy of oral enoximone, a new positive inotropic and vasodilator agent, was assessed in 12 patients with chronic congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] class II or III) in a double-blind randomized crossover comparison with placebo. Duration of each treatment was 6 weeks and the dose of enoximone was 150 mg tid. Efficacy was assessed by exercise tolerance, symptoms, radionuclide angiography for ejection fraction at rest and during exercise, and Holter monitoring. Two patients were withdrawn before completion of the study, one with pulmonary edema after 1 week on placebo and the other for noncompliance with enoximone therapy. Symptom-limited exercise capacity improved with enoximone by 30% and 43% (p less than .01) compared with baseline after 2 and 6 weeks treatment, respectively. Ejection fraction improved at rest (p less than .02) with enoximone but not with placebo. No change was found during exercise. Heart rate and blood pressure remained unaltered. During treatment with enoximone symptoms of exertional dyspnea and fatigue were improved and NYHA class decreased by at least one class for every patient. Holter monitoring revealed an overall increase (NS) in ectopic activity during enoximone therapy. There were no serious adverse effects and laboratory values did not change significantly. The addition of enoximone to the existing therapy of patients with moderately severe congestive heart failure provided clear and sustained subjective and objective benefit when compared with placebo.

Aged↗
PubMed1987

Analysis of dose-response curves to methacholine. An approach suitable for population studies.

Dose-response curves to methacholine were examined in 9 normal and 10 asthmatic volunteers to determine whether the relationship between dose and response can be adequately summarized by means of a single, continuous measure that is not censored at lower levels of bronchial responsiveness. Subjects underwent a standard methacholine challenge test. There was a strong linear relationship between percent decline FEV1 and cumulative dose methacholine. We summarized each dose-response curve by the slope of a line extending from the origin to the last data point obtained. This summary dose-response slope effectively separated asthmatic from normal subjects, and there was a greater than 3,000-fold difference between the least and most responsive subjects. There was a high degree of correlation between the dose-response slope determined by the standard methacholine challenge protocol and that determined by an abbreviated protocol currently being used to examine nonspecific airway responsiveness in a large, longitudinal study of aging. Among the participants of the latter study, there is a unimodal, skewed distribution of dose-response slope. Dose-response slope is proposed as a quantitative measure of nonspecific airway responsiveness that avoids censoring and that may be particularly useful in epidemiologic studies.

Aging↗
PubMed1986

Seroepidemiology of Campylobacter pyloridis.

A total of 1158 sera were tested by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IgG and IgA antibodies to Campylobacter pyloridis. When used to test sera from gastroendoscopy patients this method had a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 75%. Ninety-eight of 108 infected patients (91%) were seropositive whereas only 23 of 92 (25%) uninfected patients were seropositive (p less than 0.001). Positive serology was also associated with histological gastritis (p less than 0.001). When sera from occupational groups were compared to random blood donor sera, meat workers, freezing works veterinary surgeons and pest control officers had significantly higher seropositivity. Cook Island (33 of 85 (39%)), Samoan (57 of 129 (44%)) and Tongan (39 of 56 (70%)) blood donors also had greater seropositivity than random blood donors (15 of 102 (15%)), (p less than 0.001 for all three ethnic groups). Seropositivity increased with age. The results indicate that C pyloridis infection is common among certain groups within New Zealand. The implication of this finding with respect to the hypothesis that C pyloridis is aetiologically related to dyspepsia and peptic ulcer disease is discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Synaptic ribbon populations in the pineal gland of the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

Pinealocytes of rhesus monkeys that had been ovariectomized and given intramuscular injections of 250 micrograms estradiol-benzoate for 3 consecutive days tended to have more synaptic ribbons (SR) and exhibited a significantly greater size of ribbon fields (RF) compared to untreated animals. These data are consistent with hypotheses that pinealocyte function in primates is altered by hormonal imbalances and that the SR participates in this response. RF were positioned in various parts of the cytoplasm and along the plasma membrane. Participation of SR in direct cell-to-cell contacts was suggested by the formation of densities along the plasma membrane. It is postulated that large RF serve as storage organelles and that the formation of RF results from division of pre-existing SR in each field. Reconstructions made from serial thin sections revealed that profiles of RF comprised separate SR that were not folded and sectioned along various planes.

Animals↗