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Biomedical subjects

J Townsend

Publications and source records attributed to J Townsend.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1990

Low back pain of mechanical origin: randomised comparison of chiropractic and hospital outpatient treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To compare chiropractic and hospital outpatient treatment for managing low back pain of mechanical origin. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. Allocation to chiropractic or hospital management by minimisation to establish groups for analysis of results according to initial referral clinic, length of current episode, history, and severity of back pain. Patients were followed up for up two years. SETTING: Chiropractic and hospital outpatient clinics in 11 centres. PATIENTS: 741 Patients aged 18-65 who had no contraindications to manipulation and who had not been treated within the past month. INTERVENTIONS: Treatment at the discretion of the chiropractors, who used chiropractic manipulation in most patients, or of the hospital staff, who most commonly used Maitland mobilisation or manipulation, or both. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in the score on the Oswestry pain disability questionnaire and in the results of tests of straight leg raising and lumbar flexion. RESULTS: Chiropractic treatment was more effective than hospital outpatient management, mainly for patients with chronic or severe back pain. A benefit of about 7% points on the Oswestry scale was seen at two years. The benefit of chiropractic treatment became more evident throughout the follow up period. Secondary outcome measures also showed that chiropractic was more beneficial. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with low back pain in whom manipulation is not contraindicated chiropractic almost certainly confers worthwhile, long term benefit in comparison with hospital outpatient management. The benefit is seen mainly in those with chronic or severe pain. Introducing chiropractic into NHS practice should be considered.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

Role of catecholamines in regulating ovine median eminence blood flow.

Blood flow was measured in the ovine median eminence and neural lobe before and after the intravenous infusion of dopamine (n = 7), the D1 agonist SKF 38393 (n = 4), the D2 agonist bromocriptine (n = 4), and the dopamine antagonist haloperidol (n = 5). It was also measured before and after the intracarotid infusion of dopamine into eight naive sheep and seven sheep pretreated with phenoxybenzamine. Radiolabeled microspheres were used to determine regional cerebral and regional neurohypophysial blood flows (RNHBF) in these 35 adult female sheep anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. Samples for serum prolactin measurement by radioimmunoassay were obtained before and after drug infusion. Intravenous dopamine infusion did not change median eminence or neural lobe blood flow (RNHBF) but increased renal and choroid plexus blood flow. Intravenous haloperidol caused a significant fall in RNHBF and blood flow in choroid plexus, caudate nucleus, and kidneys. Intracarotid dopamine infusion decreased RNHBF but increased choroid plexus blood flow. RNHBF was significantly greater in the seven sheep pretreated with phenoxybenzamine than in the eight naive sheep. These findings do not support a role for dopamine in the regulation of median eminence blood flow. The last observation does add support to the hypothesis that norepinephrine or epinephrine interaction with alpha-receptors plays a role in the control of ovine median eminence blood flow and hence in the regulation of delivery of humoral messages from the brain to the anterior pituitary gland.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Relationship between neurodevelopmental status of very preterm infants at one and four years.

The neurodevelopmental status of 171 very preterm infants was assessed at one and four years of age. At one year 17 had major impairments and 14 had minor ones. At four years the numbers had increased to 25 with major and 25 with minor impairments. Infants with no impairments at one year had a 4 per cent probability of a major impairment at four years, whereas infants with a major impairment had a 94 per cent probability. Infants who later proved to have major neuromotor impairments had been accurately identified at one year, as had infants with sensorineural hearing-loss. Infants with minor impairments of tone and reflexes at one year did not develop cerebral movement disorder, but as a group their scores on tests of cognitive functioning were low. An additional group of infants with cognitive impairments was identified who were unimpaired at one year. The emergence of cognitive deficits largely accounted for the increase in impairments between one and four years.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed1988

The molecular basis of sulfonylurea herbicide resistance in tobacco.

The enzyme acetolactate synthase (ALS) is the target enzyme for the sulfonylurea and imidazolinone herbicides. We describe the isolation and characterization of the ALS genes from two herbicide-resistant mutants, C3 and S4-Hra, of Nicotiana tabacum. There are two distinct ALS genes in tobacco which are 0.7% divergent at the amino acid sequence level. The C3 mutant has a single Pro-Gln replacement at amino acid 196 in one ALS gene. This gene is termed the class I gene and is equivalent to the SuRA locus. The S4-Hra mutant has two amino acid changes in the other ALS gene. This gene is termed the class II gene or the SuRB locus. The S4-Hra mutant includes a Pro-Ala substitution at amino acid 196 and a Trp-Leu substitution at amino acid 573. Gene reintroduction experiments have confirmed that these amino acid substitutions are responsible for the herbicide resistance phenotypes. Transgenic plants carrying these genes are highly resistant to sulfonylurea herbicide applications.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1988

The effect of age of cattle on the in vitro production of interferon by peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal cattle of different ages and from specific pathogen-free (SPF) calves, 2 to 4 weeks old, were cultured with bovine herpes virus type 1 (BHV1), parainfluenza-3 virus (PI3) and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). The interferon (IFN) produced was characterized by acid stability and neutralizing antisera to recombinant bovine interferons. The virus preparations were presented either live or inactivated and as cell-bound virus or free virions. PBMC from cattle of all ages produced IFN-alpha when stimulated with live BHV1 and PI3 viruses. IFN-alpha was also produced with inactivated BHV1, even in cell cultures from SPF calves. However, inactivated PI3 virus failed to induce IFN in PBMC cultures from normal cattle, but approximately half of the animals, mostly calves, produced IFN-gamma spontaneously in 48 h cultures in the absence of added antigen. PHA induced IFN-gamma at an optimal concentration of 20 micrograms per ml after 3 days in culture. An age-related maturation of the IFN response was observed as PBMC from calves less than 2 weeks old produced little or no IFN when induced with either PHA or inactivated BHV1, although some IFN-alpha was produced in cultures containing live virus. Both adherent and non-adherent cells from adults and calves over 2 weeks old produced IFN on induction with inactivated BHV1 but only the non-adherent cell population produced IFN spontaneously or in response to inactivated PI3.

Aging↗
PubMed1988

Studies on peripheral nerve and lens in long-term experimental diabetes: effects of the aldose reductase inhibitor statil.

This study determined the axonal transport of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity and its content in several tissues in nondiabetic control rats and in four groups of rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes of 6-months duration. Diabetic rats were either untreated, treated only with either the aldose reductase inhibitor Statil (Imperial Chemical Industries, Pharmaceuticals Division, Macclesfield, UK) or insulin, or were given the two in combination. Insulin treatment consisted of a single weekly injection of a long-acting insulin, a regime designed not to control the diabetes, but to provide regular respite from the catabolic dominance of uncontrolled diabetes. Elevated levels of sugars and polyols in the sciatic nerves of untreated diabetic animals were markedly attenuated by Statil. The reduced myo-inositol content and reduced axonal transport of ChAT activity also seen in these nerves were prevented by Statil, but a reduced motor nerve conduction velocity was attenuated only by Statil and insulin in combination. The presence of cataracts in all diabetic animals was associated with hyperhydration of the lens. The level of hydration and presence of cataracts were reduced by Statil, particularly in combination with insulin. ChAT activities of the iris, adrenal gland, and superior cervical ganglion were similar in all groups. Skeletal muscles showed wasting while the ileum showed an increased weight per unit length in diabetic rats. These tissues also displayed alterations in ChAT activities, particularly when referenced to unit weight of tissue, which may have been a consequence of the weight changes rather than diabetes per se.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aldehyde Reductase↗
PubMed1988

Prediction of neurodevelopmental impairment at four years from brain ultrasound appearance of very preterm infants.

The neurodevelopmental status of 171 very preterm infants whose brains had been scanned prospectively with ultrasound was assessed blind at four years using a wide range of tests, including tests of cognitive function. Highly significant correlations were found between the ultrasound appearance of the brain and outcome. The probability of a major neurodevelopmental impairment among the 137 children who had a normal ultrasound scan or uncomplicated periventricular haemorrhage at discharge from the unit was 7 per cent; and for any neurodevelopmental impairment (major plus minor) it was 22 per cent. The probabilities for major, or any, neurodevelopmental impairment among the 18 children who had ventricular dilatation were 33 and 50 per cent, respectively; and for the 16 with hydrocephalus and/or cerebral atrophy (loss of brain-tissue from any cause) the probabilities were 56 and 69 per cent. Impairments predicted from lesions detected by ultrasound were largely neurological. There was no evidence that cognitive impairments could be predicted among infants free of neurological impairments.

Atrophy↗
PubMed1988

Immune production of interferon by cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells from calves infected with BHV1 and PI3 viruses.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from calves infected with bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV1) or parainfluenza 3 virus (PI3) were cultured in vitro in the presence of inactivated specific antigen presented on MDBK cells. In the presence of inactivated antigen, PBMC from both BHV1-infected and control calves produced interferon (IFN)-alpha in 24 hour cultures. Altering the culture conditions did not result in the detection of immune-specific IFN produced by mononuclear cells from BHV1-infected calves. However, spontaneous IFN was detected in the absence of antigen in 24 hour cultures from infected animals: this IFN was pH 2 labile and completely neutralised by antiserum to recombinant bovine IFN-gamma. Spontaneous IFN-gamma production was only seen in calves following a second BHV1 inoculation, given four to seven weeks after the primary dose. In contrast PBMC cultures from PI3 virus-infected calves did not produce IFN-gamma spontaneously, but did so in cultures which contained inactivated PI3 antigen. Mononuclear cells from control animals failed to produce either IFN-alpha or -gamma when cultured with inactivated PI3 virus. IFN-gamma was detected in PBMC cultures after the primary infection, with no increase in production occurring following subsequent PI3 virus inoculations. Immunospecific production of IFN-gamma provides a simple method for monitoring cell-mediated immunity in BHV1- and PI3 virus-infected calves and can be used for evaluating the efficacy of vaccines against these viruses.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Severe Raynaud's phenomenon in a patient with antinuclear antibody-negative systemic lupus erythematosus.

There is a well-recognized subset of patients with clinical findings consistent with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but with negative antinuclear antibodies (ANA). Most of these patients have significant cutaneous involvement with little central nervous system or renal pathology. The following case report describes such a patient whose presentation was suggestive of SLE but who was ANA negative despite repeated testing. Additionally, the patient was found to have severe Raynaud's phenomenon and cutaneous vasculitis. This case is noteworthy because of the prominence of vascular insufficiency as a presenting feature of ANA-negative SLE.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

ECHO for leprosy.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Charities↗
PubMed1986

Randomised trial of community-based centre versus conventional hospital management in treatment of alcoholism.

151 problem drinkers (105 men and 46 women) were recruited from the general medical and psychiatric services of a district general hospital and were allocated randomly to a community-based day centre (ACCEPT) or standard hospital inpatient and outpatient services. 115 patients (79%) were followed up at 12 months. The group as a whole showed improvement in all outcome indices at the 3-month follow-up, and this was maintained at 6 and 12 months. Patients assigned to ACCEPT services claimed to have reduced their alcohol intake (55%) more than their hospital counterparts (37%), and this was confirmed by their informants. Patients referred from the psychiatric services reduced their alcohol intake more than those from general medical services. It is concluded that treatment at a community day centre is at least as cost effective as hospital treatment of alcohol abuse.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Fast anterograde axonal transport in wasted and non-wasted diabetic rats; effects of aldose reductase inhibition.

This study measured the velocity of the fast anterograde axonal transport of [3H]-proline-labelled proteins in sciatic motoneurones of rats with streptozotocin diabetes of 12 weeks duration and in age matched controls. Four groups of diabetic animals were studied. One of these groups remained untreated whilst 2 diabetic groups received a long-acting insulin twice weekly to limit body wasting, but to permit regular hyperglycaemia. One insulin-treated group and one other diabetic group received an aldose reductase inhibitor, "Statil" (ICI 128436) by dietary admixture. Neither diabetes alone nor any of the treatment regimes produced any significant alteration of axonal transport velocity. Sciatic nerve temperature was measured concomitantly. A slight nerve hypothermia was seen in the untreated diabetic rats, but not in either insulin-treated group. It is concluded that 2 aspects of diabetes mellitus, namely persistent hyperglycaemia and polyol pathway activity in nervous tissue are without effect on the velocity of fast orthograde axonal transport of proteins.

Aldehyde Reductase↗
PubMed1985

Fast orthograde axonal transport in sciatic motoneurones and nerve temperature in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

This study measured the velocity of fast orthograde axonal transport of incorporated 3H-proline in motoneurones of the sciatic nerve in control rats and in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes of 3 weeks duration. Sciatic nerve and abdominal cavity temperatures were monitored throughout the period of measurement of transport velocity, and the rats were warmed to minimise hypothermia at both sites. There was marked abdominal and sciatic nerve hypothermia immediately after operation, and this effect was more intense in diabetic rats than in control rats. In steady state, abdominal cavity temperature (mean +/- SEM) was 38.1 +/- 0.1 degree C in both control and diabetic rats, and the sciatic nerve temperatures were 37.8 +/- 0.1 degree C in controls and 37.1 +/- 0.3 degrees C in diabetic rats. The difference was not statistically significant. The velocities of orthograde axonal transport for the fastest molecules containing 3H-proline were 14.0 +/- 0.9 (SEM)mm/h for controls and 13.9 +/- 1.1 (SEM)mm/h for diabetic rats. Thus, no velocity difference was observed. The findings are discussed in relation to measurements of fast orthograde transport velocity in experimental diabetes in other studies. It is suggested that, where velocity deficits have been seen in diabetic rats, nerve hypothermia should be considered as a contributory factor.

Anesthesia↗
PubMed1985

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity of Trypanosoma theileri mediated by purified bovine isotypes and subisotypes.

Bovine neutrophils, eosinophils and macrophages mediated in vitro cytotoxicity against Trypanosoma theileri in the presence of purified IgM, IgG1 and IgG2 from immune bovine serum. When the immunoglobulin fractions were assayed at similar concentrations, IgM was the most effective isotype mediating killing with all three effector cell types. Using the ELISA with monospecific antisera against the different bovine isotypes and subisotypes, IgM was shown to be contaminated by less than 1%. The addition of 0.08 M 2-mercaptoethanol inhibited IgM-mediated ADCC but not that of IgG1 or IgG2, and the cytotoxicity occurred in the absence of complement. The presence of isotype and subisotype specific Fc receptors on the bovine effector cells was investigated using a totally homologous erythrocyte-antibody (EA) rosetting technique. FC receptors for bovine IgM, IgG1 and IgG2 were detected on bovine neutrophils. Very few FcM receptors were detected on either eosinophils or macrophages, but FcG2 receptors were detected on both cell types, and FcG1 receptors on macrophages. However, eosinophils showed very few FcG1 receptors. The failure to detect all types of Fc receptor on the three different effector cells is discussed.

Animals↗