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Biomedical subjects

G Hughes

Publications and source records attributed to G Hughes.

At least 163 records · Page 9Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Characteristics of frequently cited articles in mental retardation.

The purpose of this article was to identify and characterize prominent journal publications in the field of mental retardation from 1976 to 1985. Based on the frequency of citations in the Social Science Citation Index, 24 prominent articles were identified. Prominent (i.e., frequently cited) articles were compared with randomly selected articles on a number of characteristics (e.g., funding source, research, design, statistical method). Implications related to the characteristics and quality of articles that influence the mental retardation field were discussed.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

Tracheal aspirates from neonates during endotracheal intubation: detection of surfactant by polarized light microscopy.

A technique for detecting the presence of pulmonary surfactant in the tracheal aspirates obtained from preterm babies is described. The specimens were examined by means of polarized light microscopy. Surfactant could be simply and rapidly identified by its appearance as birefringent particles in volumes of aspirate as little as 1 microliter. Tracheal aspirate specimens from 108 babies, obtained on the first day of life, were examined without knowledge of the patient's clinical details. When the samples from each baby were subdivided into three groups on the basis of the amount of surfactant particles seen, this subgrouping corresponded well with the babies' ventilatory requirements at the time of sample collection. This method of detecting surfactant material may prove valuable in determining the degree of surfactant deficiency in individual preterm babies with respiratory illness.

Humans↗
PubMed1988

Effects of treatment for isolated systolic hypertension on cognitive status and depression in the elderly.

The Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP) was designed as a feasibility study and in part dealt with the effects of the treatment of isolated systolic hypertension on cognitive status and depression. Subjects were 60 years of age or older with a systolic blood pressure of 160 mmHg or greater and diastolic of less than 90 mmHg; free of several specified illnesses or chronic conditions. These volunteers were randomly assigned to treatment (n = 443) and placebo (n = 108) groups. The behavioral assessments at baseline and 1 year later were the SHORT-CARE instrument for depression, cognitive impairment, and disability and other tests of cognitive status (Digit Symbol Substitution and the Trail Making tests). Although the treatment regime was highly successful in controlling the hypertension, it did not have a significant impact on changes in cognitive function or level of depression; a behavioral benefit was not evident but the results are consistent with the view that an effective treatment regime for isolated systolic hypertension in the elderly can be behaviorally safe.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Therapeutic choices for rheumatic disorders.

Of concern to physicians specializing in the elderly is the different profile of drug metabolism and toxicity in the elderly. Older patients have differences in metabolism of a number of drugs, as well as in altered immunologic responses to these agents. The advantages and disadvantages of the agents used most frequently to treat elderly rheumatic patients will be reviewed. For example, effects of various nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) regarding efficacy and adverse gastrointestinal, hepatic, and renal effects, and their different pharmacokinetic profiles can play a part in choosing appropriate therapy for an individual patient. Etodolac, a newer NSAID, is a promising addition to the available choices for elderly, as well as younger, patients. Etodolac has been shown to be clinically effective with a low incidence of adverse effects. It has a half-life of approximately 7 h in older patients, and about 75% of the drug is excreted in the urine mainly as metabolites. It is highly protein-bound.

Aged↗
PubMed1988

Relationships of low density lipoprotein cholesterol with age and other factors: a cross-sectional analysis of the CARDIA study.

Presumed evolution of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was studied in a baseline cross-sectional survey of 4955 18-30 year old men and women of various sociodemographic backgrounds. Specifically studied were the influences on LDL-C and the change of LDL-C with age of race, gender, education, diet, physical activity, fatness and fitness. Men increased about 20 mg/dl per 10 years of age, while women increased about 3 mg/dl. Increasing education was found to be associated with higher LDL-C in blacks, but with lower LDL-C in whites. Higher Keys diet score and body mass index were positively associated with LDL-C, while higher total caloric intake, vigorous physical activity, duration on a treadmill exercise test and usual intake of alcohol were negatively associated with LDL-C. The finding of a different relationship of LDL-C to increasing education in whites than in blacks suggests a cultural or behavioral influence in rate of increase in LDL-C.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Protection of cattle from bovine herpesvirus type I (BHV-1) infection by immunization with individual viral glycoproteins.

The major glycoproteins gI, gIII, and gIV of bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) were found to induce high levels of antibody in cattle which could neutralize virus and participate in antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity of BHV-1-infected cells. Immunized animals were fully protected from disease, using a BHV-1/Pasteurella haemolytica aerosol challenge model but not from infection with the virus. Thus, virus could still replicate in the nasal passages of immunized animals, although to a lesser extent than in placebo-treated animals or animals immunized with a commercial killed whole virus vaccine. Systemic spread of the virus in immunized animals did not appear to occur since there was not a dramatic alteration of leukocyte function following challenge. These results suggest that any one of the three major BHV-1 glycoproteins may be useful as a subunit vaccine either individually or in combination.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Compliance to treatment for hypertension in elderly patients: the SHEP pilot study. Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program.

Assessing the compliance of people over 60 years of age and older with an antihypertensive treatment regimen was a major objective of the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program (SHEP) pilot study. The study randomized 551 men and women over the age of 60 (mean age = 72 years) to a stepped care treatment that included chlorthalidone or placebo in a double-blind trial. Three measures of compliance to treatment protocol--pill count, self-report, and a urine chlorthalidone assay--all indicated high levels of compliance in 80 to 90% of participants at 3 months and 1 year after randomization. Pill-taking compliance was similar in the active and placebo groups, although the rate of discontinuance from study medications at 1 year was higher in the placebo than in the active group. Compliance was high in all age categories, including those over age 80. These data suggest that elderly patients can achieve high levels of compliance with antihypertensive medications.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

Predictors of cardiovascular events and mortality in the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program pilot project.

Do the established cardiovascular risk factors for younger persons remain important predictors of cardiovascular disease events and mortality in those who are older? The authors examined this question in the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Program pilot project which prospectively followed 551 men and women 60 years of age and older with pretreatment systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 160 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg who were enrolled between May 1981 and July 1982. Mean age was 72 years, 37% were men, 82% were white, and 24% had attended college. The vital status of all 551 participants was known at the end of follow-up, an average of 34 months after entry; there were 39 deaths from all causes, 66 first cardiovascular events, 18 strokes, and 20 episodes of myocardial infarction/sudden death. Univariate Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that age was a predictor (p less than 0.05) of all-cause mortality, first cardiovascular event, and stroke. Less than college education was a predictor of all-cause mortality and first cardiovascular event, smoking was a predictor of first cardiovascular event and myocardial infarction/sudden death, cholesterol was a predictor of first cardiovascular event, and lower body mass index was a predictor of increased all-cause mortality. After adjustment for covariables, age, lower education, lower body mass index, and baseline electrocardiographic abnormalities were significant predictors of all-cause mortality, and age, lower education, history of cardiovascular event, and smoking remained significant predictors of first cardiovascular event. Sex was not a risk factor, and the ability to examine hypertension as a risk factor was impaired by the fact that the entire cohort had systolic hypertension at baseline, and most were treated. These findings, combined with prior evidence, suggest that smoking, low education level, and perhaps serum cholesterol are risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the elderly. Although the excess risk conveyed by these factors is large, its reversibility needs to be demonstrated by intervention studies.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1987

Expiratory muscle activity in preterm babies.

The activity of the right external abdominal oblique muscle, in relation to respiration, in newborn babies from 25 to 34 weeks' gestation was studied, using surface electrodes. Babies without respiratory difficulties showed no activity associated with respiration in these muscles. Grunting babies with respiratory disease showed pronounced activity during expiration. This activity continued when the babies were endotracheally intubated; if the babies were ventilated it sometimes disturbed the tidal ventilation delivered by the machines. When the baby expired during a ventilator inflation, so that gas came up the endotracheal tube against the inflating pressure, the abdominal oblique muscles contracted in 98% of the breaths.

Electromyography↗
PubMed1987

High incidence of anticardiolipin antibodies in relatives of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL) were measured in the serum of 22 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 101 of their first degree relatives. Four patients' sera (18%) were positive. Eight sera from relatives were strongly positive (7.9%). All 8 relatives came from different families, and only 3 of them were related to a positive positive proband. All 8 had clinical and/or other serological abnormalities, compared with only 30% of the aCL negative relatives (p less than 0.05). There were no reports or evidence of thrombosis, thrombocytopenia or spontaneous abortion among the aCL positive relatives. Our data indicate a strikingly higher incidence of aCL among relatives of lupus patients compared with controls. This may be associated with an increased incidence of abnormal clinical or serological findings in these individuals, and constitute a feature of a genetic predisposition to SLE.

Adult↗