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Biomedical subjects

H Taggart

Publications and source records attributed to H Taggart.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Tolerability and compliance with risedronate in clinical practice.

The purpose of this study was to determine compliance with dosing instructions, and the prevalence of possible adverse events, when risedronate is used in clinical practice. 219 patients were studied. We found that despite counseling one in four patients were non-compliant with dosing instructions. Those patients who did not stay upright after taking risedronate were more likely to have an adverse event and to discontinue the drug. Adverse events were experienced by 38% of patients, the commonest being gastrointestinal. Upper GI adverse events occurred in 21% of patients. A previous history of upper GI symptoms applied to 44% of patients and significantly more of them experienced upper GI adverse events than those with no history of GI problems. Forty two (19%) of patients taking risedronate stopped therapy due to adverse events, but only ten of these patients had contacted the Osteoporosis Unit about these symptoms. Approximately one third of the patients who experienced adverse events in this study had attempted a rechallenge with the drug. This was worthwhile, however, as in almost 50% of these patients their symptoms settled and they continued with therapy. This study has highlighted the importance of following up patients on long-term osteoporosis medication to ensure optimal compliance. The use of specialized osteoporosis nurses in clinics or primary care to follow up patients needs to be addressed.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

How reliable is a radiological report in osteoporosis in diagnosing low bone density?

Patients are often referred to osteoporosis clinics with a radiological diagnosis of osteoporosis. Previous studies attempting to ascertain risk of osteoporosis from radiographs have been conflicting. The aim of our study was to determine how reliable spinal radiographs were at detecting low bone density compared with Dual Energy X ray Absorptiometry (DXA). We retrospectively measured the Bone Mineral Density (BMD) at the spine in 130 patients with a radiological diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis in the absence of vertebral fractures. They were compared with a group of 119 age and sex matched patients with one or more low trauma vertebral fractures. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean BMD between these two groups. 12.7%, of the x-ray group with osteopenia reported, had a normal bone density, 49.2% had osteopenia (T-score -1 to -2.5) and 38.1% had osteoporosis (T-score <-2.5). Of those with a radiological report of osteoporosis, 12.8% had a normal bone density, 44.7% had osteopenia and 42.6% had osteoporosis. We conclude that a radiological report of low bone density is a strong predictor of osteopenia or osteoporosis by BMD measurement.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1995

Reduced bone density of the hip in elderly patients with Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a major cause of falls and reduced mobility in elderly people. Fractures often occur as a result of these falls but there have been no studies of bone mineral density (BMD) in PD. We have prospectively studied 29 elderly women (mean age 77 years) and 26 elderly men (mean age 74 years) with PD over 2 years and compared them with similar numbers of age- and sex-matched controls. Bone mineral density was measured by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Women were more likely to sustain fractures (38% compared with 8% of men). Mean BMD of the lumbar spine was similar in the 55 combined PD patients compared with combined controls. However, the total hip BMD was 10% lower (p = 0.014) and the neck of femur BMD 12% lower (p < 0.004) in the 51 PD patients compared with controls. The relatively lower hip BMD in elderly PD men and women combined with their abnormal gait and tendency to fall backwards or to the side may explain their excess risk of hip fractures, particularly in women. The neuromuscular deficit in PD may differentially reduce hip BMD relative to other sites and may thus be amenable to measures designed to improve mechanical loading in the lower limbs in the early stages of PD.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1995

Bone mineral density in relation to medical and lifestyle risk factors for osteoporosis in premenopausal, menopausal and postmenopausal women in general practice.

BACKGROUND: Interest in the prevention of osteoporosis is increasing and thus there is a need for an acceptable osteoporosis prevention programme in general practice. AIM: A study was undertaken to identify a cohort of middle-aged women attending a general practice who would be eligible for a longitudinal study looking at bone mineral density, osteoporosis and the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy. This study aimed to describe the relationship between medical and lifestyle risk factors for osteoporosis and the initial bone density measurements in this group of women. METHOD: A health visitor administered a questionnaire to women aged between 48 and 52 years registered with a Belfast general practice. The main outcome measures were menopausal status, presence of medical and lifestyle risk factors and bone mineral density measurements. RESULTS: A total of 358 women our of 472 (76%) took part in the study which was conducted in 1991 and 1992. A highly significant difference was found between the mean bone mineral density of premenopausal, menopausal and postmenopausal women within the narrow study age range, postmenopausal women having the lowest bone mineral density. A significant relationship was found between body mass index and bone mineral density, a greater bone mineral density being found among women with a higher body mass index. Risk factors such as smoking and sedentary lifestyle were common (reported by approximately one third of respondents) but a poor relationship was found between these two and all the other risk factors and bone mineral density in this age group. CONCLUSION: Risk of osteoporosis cannot be identified by the presence of risk factors in women aged between 48 and 52 years. In terms of a current prevention strategy for general practice it would be better to take a population-based approach except for those women known to be at high risk of osteoporosis: women with early menopause or those who have had an oophorectomy.

Bone Density↗
PubMed1984

Drug safety.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions↗
PubMed1980

Sex hormone levels in younger male stroke survivors.

Increased plasma oestrogen levels have been reported in men with myocardial infarction. To establish whether similar findings occur in stroke, plasma oestradiol and testosterone levels were measured in 26 male survivors of stroke and 27 healthy male controls. There was no difference in oestradiol or testosterone levels between the two groups and the oestradiol : testosterone ratio was also identical. The result of this study does not support the suggestion that hyperoestrogenaemia is a risk factor for atherosclerosis in general.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1980

Control of DNA synthesis in cultured vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells--response to serum, platelet-deficient serum, lipid-free serum, insulin and oestrogens.

Endothelial and smooth muscle cell proliferation has an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. To study the effect of serum and some of its putative growth factors on DNA synthesis, the incorporation of thymidine into DNA was studied in cultured human umbilical endothelial and rat aortic smooth muscle cells. DNA synthesis in endothelial cells was progressively stimulated by increasing concentrations of human serum, maximum stimulation occurring with 20% serum. Foetal calf serum had a much lesser effect on DNA synthesis in endothelial cells. Smooth muscle cells responded equally to human and foetal calf serum. Exposure to serum prepared to exclude the platelet-derived growth factor resulted in reduced DNA synthesis in smooth muscle cells. However, endothelial cells increased DNA synthesis in platelet-poor serum. Serum from which lipid had been extracted stimulated DNA synthesis less well than whole serum in both endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Insulin stimulated DNA synthesis in smooth muscle cells but not in endothelial cells, while ethinylestradiol, estrone and estriol had no effect on DNA synthesis in either type of cell. Thus cultured endothelial and smooth muscle cells differ in their requirements for human serum and in their response to platelet factor and to insulin.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Reduced high density lipoprotein in stroke: relationship with elevated triglyceride and hypertension.

Lipids and lipoproteins were analysed in forty-one survivors of stroke, aged less than 65 years, and the same number of age and sex matched controls without vascular disease. The stroke subjects had no evidence of coronary artery or peripheral vascular disease. High density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly lower (1.19 +/- 0.06 mmol/l) in the stroke subjects than the controls (1.47 +/- 0.07 mmol/l). Triglyceride was also elevated in the stroke subjects, but this was confined to those who were taking antihypertensive treatment which included beta-blockers and/or thiazides. The low levels of high density lipoprotein in stroke were independent of hypertension or its treatment. Thus low levels of high density lipoprotein appear to be associated with cerebrovascular disease, while elevated triglyceride is a complication of anti-hypertensive therapy.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Long-term efficacy of cyclical etidronate therapy in postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Sixty-two women (mean age 68.7 +/- 0.9 yr) with postmenopausal spinal osteoporosis were treated with cyclical etidronate therapy (400 mg for 2 weeks alternating with 12 weeks of 1 gm elemental calcium and 400 IU Vitamin D3) for a minimum of 2 yr. Bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine (g/cm2) increased significantly (p < 0.0001) after yr 1 (4.1 +/- 0.5 per cent) and yr 2 compared with yr 1 (2.2 +/- 0.5 per cent). The response rate was 89 per cent after yr 1 and 84 per cent after yr 2. BMD of the hip (30 patients) increased by 1.5 +/- 0.9 per cent after yr 1 and 5.5 +/- 1.1 per cent (p < 0.0001) after yr 2 when compared with baseline. The response rate was 63 per cent after yr 1 and 80 per cent after yr 2. Smaller numbers of patients continued with treatment up to 4 yr with no adverse long-term effects.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Orthopaedic nursing research priorities: a replication and extension.

PURPOSE: This study identified current orthopaedic nursing research priorities that should be investigated to advance the practice of orthopaedic nursing. The study was accomplished by the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses' (NAON) Research Committee via a national survey of selected NAON members. DESIGN: A descriptive design was used to determine research priorities. SAMPLE: The sample consisted of a random sample of 133 NAON members. The sample was stratified for either graduate degrees (> or = master's), other than a graduate degree (< or = bachelor's) (to insure representation from "frontline" practicing nurses), and registrants in the NAON Researcher Database and recipients of NAON Foundation or American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS)/NAON grants. METHOD: A three round Delphi survey technique was used to build consensus by systematically generating, synthesizing, and analyzing opinions of a group of experts while maintaining confidentiality of the individuals. MAIN RESEARCH CLASSIFICATIONS: Nursing research priorities, Delphi method, Orthopaedic nursing. FINDINGS: The nine target research questions for orthopaedic nursing identified as high priority were grouped into the following categories: patient acuity, care delivery models, staffing issues, patient complications, pain management (in the elderly and those with altered mental status), and patient mobility. These research priority items are intended to direct the orthopaedic nurse researcher to study specific questions within these categories. CONCLUSION: Results reflect the dramatic changes occurring in orthopaedic nursing practice. Research priorities reveal the need for more research on pain and patient complications (e.g., deep vein thrombosis (DVT)) despite a preponderance of existing, published research on these topics. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING RESEARCH: This study identified target research questions for orthopaedic nursing. These questions may be used by orthopaedic nurses to develop nursing research proposals as well as collaborative research endeavors with other members of the orthopaedic health care team. An ongoing and wider dissemination of results of existing research to the NAON membership needs to be implemented.

Delphi Technique↗