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Biomedical subjects

L Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to L Taylor.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Bile salt-stimulated lipase (BSSL) distribution in rat, mouse and transgenic mouse expressing human BSSL.

In some species, including man and mouse, bile salt-stimulated lipase (BSSL) in milk catalyzes the hydrolysis of triacylglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids, a reaction that is of particular importance during suckling. The enzyme is also secreted by the pancreas (referred to as carboxyl-ester hydrolase, CEH). We wished to localize sources and storage sites for BSSL/CEH in rats, in wild-type mice, and in transgenic mice producing recombinant human BSSL in milk. Immunoreactivity against several BSSL fragments was strong in the pancreatic acinar cells and moderate in the absorptive cells of the small intestine and in salivary duct cells of the mice, as well as in rats. Sections from lactating mammary glands of mouse, but not rat, also showed immunoreactivity for BSSL; the signal was strongest in the transgenic mice. Radioactive riboprobes for BSSL mRNA hybridized on sections of rat and mouse pancreatic acinar cells, and mouse mammary glands (both wild-type and transgenic). Using RT-PCR, it was possible to amplify BSSL mRNA from wild-type mouse pancreas and mammary gland, from rat submandibular glands, and, in a few cases, from rat liver. In transgenic mice, the BSSL mRNA was highly expressed only in lactating mammary gland, but could be detected in a few other organs as well.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

1996 peritoneal dialysis--core indicators report.

The 1996 Peritoneal Dialysis-Core Indicators Study (PD-CIS) retrospectively reviews a random sample of peritoneal dialysis patients from the United States End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) program. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are more likely to have a primary diagnosis of glomerulonephritis, less likely to be of African-American heritage, and are younger than hemodialysis patients. One third of PD patients now perform some form of automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) rather than continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). The dialysis prescriptions currently employed do not appear to be based on kinetic principles, and the intensity of dialysis achieved is below the proposed minimal guidelines for 30% of patients. In 1996, the mean dialysis index or wKt/Vurea for CAPD patients was 2.0 +/- 0.5 and was not significantly altered from the 1995 value of 2.1. Eighty-four percent of CAPD patients perform four or fewer exchanges daily, and only 27% of patients have prescriptions using infusion volumes greater than 2 L. Although hematocrits have improved since 1995, 30% of PD patients have a hematocrit below 30%. The mean serum albumin for PD patients is 3.5 g/dL, and 25% of patients have a 6-month average serum albumin value below 3.2 g/dL. In general, the indices monitored as predictive of health and well-being of PD patients afford significant opportunity for improvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Extending the pipeline for minority physicians: a comprehensive program for minority faculty development.

Medical schools must become more successful in training minority faculty. Minority faculty development programs at schools of medicine must involve trainees from the undergraduate years (if not before) through junior faculty and must involve MD and combine-degree (MD-PhD) students. The authors describe the comprehensive minority faculty development program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, which involves minority undergraduates, medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty. This program provides the administrative staff and research methodologists to assist trainees at all levels across all departments in the school of medicine. The principal student recruitment program is the undergraduate premedicine enrichment program. The medical student component provides general counseling, research development, and activities to enhance performance in the clinical courses. The components for advanced trainees (residents, fellows, and postdoctoral trainees) and faculty consist of training in research methods, mentoring, teaching skills, and scientific writing skills. Through this program, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has increased the number of under-represented minority faculty by 32% since 1993-94 and created an environment conducive to the professional growth and development of minority faculty.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1998

Case study: neurological brain waves causing serious behavioral brainstorms.

A case highlighting the association of epilepsy with psychopathology is reported. The patient suffered a rare and extreme behavioral disturbance, characterized by persistent disruptive behavior and intermittent bizarre and violent outbursts. These outbursts often appeared purposeful, but some of them were later diagnosed as ictal manifestations of temporal lobe epilepsy. Temporal lobectomy resulted in remission both of the epilepsy and of the more persistent behavioral disturbance. lctal behavioral change was masked by interictal behavioral disturbance, leading to delayed diagnosis and prolonged psychosocial dysfunction. It is important to record the paroxysmal abnormal behavior with simultaneous electroencephalographic recording if there is a suspicion of organic disease. Physical and psychosocial factors in the relationship between epilepsy and extreme psychiatric disturbance are considered. This case demonstrates how successful epilepsy treatment may produce amelioration of associated psychiatric disturbance.

Attention Deficit and Disruptive Behavior Disorder↗
PubMed1998

HHV-8 is not associated with follicular dendritic cell tumours.

Follicular dendritic cell tumours are rare malignancies derived from the follicular dendritic cells of lymphoid follicles. These tumours have been associated with Epstein-Barr virus infections and with the hyaline vascular subtype of Castleman's disease. Because many examples of Castleman's disease have been associated with Kaposi's sarcoma associated herpes virus (HHV-8), this study uses polymerase chain reaction technology to examine five cases of follicular dendritic cell tumours for HHV-8. One of these cases had previously been documented to arise from pre-existing Castleman's disease. HHV-8 DNA was not detected in any of the follicular dendritic cell tumours examined, or in the original case of Castleman's disease. These findings suggest that HHV-8 plays no role in the aetiology of follicular dendritic cell tumours and the cause of this tumour remains obscure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Students, clinicians and university tutors: triangulation of clinical data.

The relationship between intuitive clinical awareness and scientific knowledge is reciprocal: clinical hunch fuels scientific theory which in turn informs clinical practice. This paper demonstrates how students may have a pivotal role in a data triangulation process by acting as a channel for the flow of information between speech and language clinicians and academic institutions involved in the education and training of speech and language therapists. The results of a preliminary survey of students' and clinicians' views about the usefulness of collaboration around clinical data are used as the basis for generating a model which shows the shared roles and responsibilities of the participants as well as the crucial focus on improved client management.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Delusions and hallucinations in an adult day care population. A longitudinal study.

The frequency of the manifestation of delusions and hallucinations (d/h) among participants of adult day care centers was examined, as was the relationship of d/h to demographic and medical variables, agitation, depressed affect, and dementia. Changes in d/h were also assessed over a 1-year period, and those changes were compared with changes in agitation, depressed affect, and dementia. Depressed affect and agitation were related both to delusions and to hallucinations. Dementia was also related to d/h, although a substantial percentage of individuals who were not diagnosed with dementia also experienced some type of d/h. Finally, delusions were more prevalent and generally tended to relate more strongly to agitation, depressed affect, and dementia than did hallucinations.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Using the Quetelet body mass index as a mortality indicator for patients starting renal replacement therapy.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare clinical profiles and mortality risk of patients starting renal replacement therapy (RRT) across three Quetelet body mass index (BMI) classifications: lean, normal, and obese. SAMPLE/SETTING: All patients applying for dialysis services using Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) from 2728-U4 were sampled during the period of April 1, 1995 through June 30, 1995 in two end-stage renal disease (ESRD) Networks. These two ESRD networks encompassed 7 states and provided 846 patients for this analysis. DESIGN: A descriptive survival study was used with a follow-up period of 18 months. METHODS: The Quetelet BMI was calculated based on dividing the predialysis (i.e. before the first dialysis) weight in kilograms by the height in meters squared (kg/m2). Lean, normal, and obese groups were established by quartiles for each gender. A normal BMI consisted of all patients in which the observed BMI was greater than the 25th percentile or less than the 75th percentile. RESULTS: The lean risk group had more health problems than either the normal or obese group, most notably, a higher prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 35, 16.99%) [p = 0.007] and peripheral vascular disease (n = 51, 24.76%) [p = 0.005]. CONCLUSIONS: Death risk was higher in the lean group compared to the normal group after adjusting for age, sex, diabetes, coronary artery disease (CAD), and albumin ratio levels. Based on the simplicity of this technique, recommendations for using the Quetelet BMI as a part of routine patient screening is advocated. Obtaining height and weight are necessary assessment parameters for patients starting dialysis therapy. Using the Quetelet BMI will help nurses to identify those patients who are at nutritional risk.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

Enhanced bradykinin-stimulated phospholipase C activity in murine embryonic stem cells lacking the G-protein alphaq-subunit.

The gene coding for the G-protein alphaq subunit was interrupted by homologous recombination in murine embryonic stem cells (alphaq-null ES cells) as detected by Southern analysis and reverse-transcriptase PCR. The bradykinin (BK) B2 receptor was stably transfected into wild-type (WT) alphai-2-null and alphaq-null ES cells. The B2 receptor bound BK with high affinity and mobilized Ca2+. BK also activated phospholipase C (PLC), as determined by total inositol phosphate (IP) accumulation in a Bordetella pertussis toxin- and genistein-insensitive manner. In WT and alphai-2-null ES cells, BK increased IP levels approx. 4-fold above baseline. Most interestingly, in alphaq-null ES cells, BK increased IP accumulation approx. 9-fold above baseline. Re-expression of alphaq in alphaq-null ES cells resulted in normalization of the BK-stimulated IP accumulation (4-fold above baseline). These results suggest that the B2 receptor activates PLC through more than one member of the Gq family. Additionally, the absence of alphaq alters the kinetics of IP generation, which may reflect intrinsic characteristics of individual members of the Gq family or a decreased susceptibility to heterologous regulation in the alphaq-null ES cells, thus allowing for a more sustained generation of IP.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Identification of an mRNA-binding protein and the specific elements that may mediate the pH-responsive induction of renal glutaminase mRNA.

Various segments of the 3'-nontranslated region of the renal glutaminase (GA) mRNA were tested for their ability to enhance turnover and pH responsiveness. The combined effects were retained in the 340-base R-2 segment. However, the combined R-1 and R-3 fragments also imparted a partial destabilization and pH responsiveness to a chimeric beta-globin mRNA. RNA electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that cytosolic extracts of rat renal cortex contain a protein that binds to the R-2 and R-3 RNAs. The binding observed with the R-2 RNA was mapped to a direct repeat of an 8-base AU sequence. This binding was effectively competed with an excess of the same RNA, but not by adjacent or unrelated RNAs. UV cross-linking experiments identified a 48-kDa protein that binds to the AU repeats of the R-2 RNA. The apparent binding of this protein was greatly reduced in renal cytosolic extracts prepared from acutely acidotic rats. Two related RNA sequences in the R-3 segment also exhibited specific binding. However, the latter binding was more effectively competed by R-2 RNA than by itself, indicating that the homologous sites may be weaker binding sites for the same 48-kDa protein. Thus, a single protein may bind specifically to multiple instability elements within the 3'-nontranslated region of the GA mRNA and mediate its pH-responsive stabilization.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

MRSA.

All nurses are likely to encounter methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at some time in their career, and they are also likely to observe that approaches to containing it vary from hospital to hospital and within different care settings. This Learning Unit aims to explore these apparent contradictions, and identify the elements of practice common to all care settings. The associated television component makes clear that the needs of the patient are central to all approaches to tackling MRSA. The themes of this workbook are based on the settings in which care is given. The settings are important as predictors of the acquisition and spread of MRSA, because they indicate the vulnerability of the patients within them, and the kind of treatment and care the patients are likely to receive. Susceptibility to MRSA is linked to surgery, to the use of invasive devices and to the immune state of the patient. The physical environment, the fixtures and fittings, furniture and equipment, are seldom implicated in the spread of MRSA. MRSA lives on skin, and it is skin that helps it to spread, particularly on the hands of healthcare workers. The focus of this workbook is on the simple, everyday practices which interrupt this method of spread. This Unit is relevant to the UKCC Professional Development Categories: Care enhancement and Reducing risk.

Cross Infection↗
PubMed1997

Rotavirus and hepatitis A virus in market lettuce (Latuca sativa) in Costa Rica.

We assessed the presence of rotavirus and Hepatitis A virus in lettuce bought in farmer markets from San José, Costa Rica, during months of low (April-June) and high (December-January) incidence of diarrhea associated with rotavirus, respectively. Lettuce samples were pooled and evaluated for rotavirus by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and for Hepatitis A virus by radioimmunoassay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and electron microscope. Three sample pools, collected during the period of high prevalence of diarrhea, were positive for rotavirus by ELISA and in one of them rotavirions were visualized by electron microscopy. Two samples pools collected during the same period were positive for Hepatitis A virus as shown by PCR. In almost all the pools fecal coliform bacteria were detected by cultivation and bacteriophages were visualized by electron microscopy.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMed1997

Effects of intracellular tyrosine residue mutation and carboxyl terminus truncation on signal transduction and internalization of the rat bradykinin B2 receptor.

Presently, little is known of the amino acid motif(s) participating in bradykinin B2 receptor-mediated signal transduction processes. In this report we investigate the potential role of the two existing tyrosine (Tyr) residues in the intracellular regions and the carboxyl terminus in the regulatory function of this receptor. Rat-1 cells, which do not contain detectable bradykinin B2 receptor, were transfected with wild type and mutant receptor cDNAs. Tyr-131 and Tyr-321 were each mutated to corresponding alanine-, serine-, and phenylalanine-containing sequences. The last 34 amino acid residues of the carboxyl terminus were truncated. Rat-1 cells transfected with the mutant forms of the receptor cDNA including the truncated COOH-terminal cDNA all bound [3H]bradykinin with essentially the same Kd of approximately 2.2 nM as cells transfected with the wild type bradykinin B2 receptor. However, mutating Tyr-131 resulted in important changes in bradykinin-stimulated phosphoinositide turnover and arachidonate release. For example, exchanging Tyr-131 for alanine led to an 80% decreased arachidonate release (p < 0.005), 90% decrease in inositol phosphate (IP) accumulation (p < 0.001), with receptor uptake at 15 min remaining essentially unchanged. Mutating the same Tyr to phenylalanine resulted in unchanged bradykinin-stimulated IP accumulation, only a slightly lowered arachidonate release, and unchanged receptor uptake at 15 min. Mutating Tyr-321 to alanine resulted in a very different pattern. There was a small but significant reduction in arachidonate release (p < 0.03) and IP accumulation (p < 0.008) with a large, 30%, increase in receptor uptake at 15 min (p < 0.010). Truncation of a portion of the carboxyl tail also proved meaningful, with a 60% decrease in arachidonate release and an 80% decrease in IP accumulation. The truncation also resulted in a large, 130%, decrease in receptor uptake at 15 min (p < 0.023). Taken together, these results point to Tyr-131 as an important element in determining bradykinin-stimulated arachidonate release and IP accumulation. Tyrosine phosphorylation at this site apparently does not play a major role. Tyr-131, Tyr-321, and the carboxyl tail appear to be important in determining receptor uptake.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1997

Increased production of extracellular glutamate by the mitochondrial glutaminase following neuronal death.

Elevated extracellular concentrations of the excitatory transmitter glutamate are an important cause of neuronal death in a variety of disorders of the nervous system. The concentrations and rates of clearance and production of extracellular glutamate were measured in the medium of primary cultures from mouse neocortex containing neurons, astrocytes, or both cell types. Measurements were performed in the presence and absence of 2 mM glutamine with or without neuronal injury caused by 5-h exposure to hypoxia or 500 microM N-methyl-D-aspartate or a freeze-thaw cycle. High rates of glutamate generation (0.5-0.8 microM/min in the 0.4-ml culture well) occurred if neurons were both damaged and exposed to glutamine. Intact neurons or glia exposed to glutamine generated only small amounts of glutamate (0.03 microM/min). Glutamate generation by damaged neurons was dependent on the presence of glutamine, activated by phosphate, and inhibited by 6-diazo-5-oxo-L-norleucine and p-chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid (pCMPS), strongly implicating the mitochondrial glutaminase. Following 5-h exposure to 500 microM N-methyl-D-aspartate, the glutaminase was localized to fragments of damaged neurons and was accessible to inhibition by the membrane-impermeant pCMPS. The glutaminase activity from damaged neurons is sufficient to account for the neurotoxic concentrations of glutamate in hypoxic mixed neuronal-glial cultures exposed to 2 mM glutamine. Finally, pCMPS is neuroprotective and also prevents the increased rate of generation of glutamate observed in neuronal cultures after prolonged exposure to glutamine. The cumulative data indicate the following: 1) excitotoxic neuronal death activates the hydrolysis of extracellular glutamine by the mitochondrial glutaminase, and 2) the glutaminase in damaged neurons is sufficient to cause neuronal death in in vitro models of neuronal injury.

4-Chloromercuribenzenesulfonate↗
PubMed1997

Characterization of human cyclooxygenase 2 gene promoter localization of a TGF-beta response element.

We characterized 2.3 kb of 5'-flanking region of the human cyclooxygenase 2 gene and analyzed its promoter activity. We localized three positive and two negative cis-acting regulatory regions and a TGF-beta response region. Basal promoter activity was located between -77 and +99 bp. Maximal promoter activity was observed from -1838 to +99 bp. A TGF-beta response region was found between -454 and -288 bp. This region included an NF-I site. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that TGF-beta caused a marked change in the pattern and intensity of this NF-I like protein complex.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Effects of lesions invading the postcentral gyrus on somatosensory thresholds on the face.

Patients with unilateral removals from either the parietal, frontal or temporal lobe and normal control subjects were examined on three tests of tactile sensibility. The patients with surgical excisions from the parietal lobe were subdivided into two groups: those whose lesions invaded the face area in the primary sensory cortex and those whose lesions spared this area. A significant percentage of patients with lesions that invaded the face area had mild to severe sensory deficits on the side of the face contralateral to the lesion. A much smaller number of patients had deficits on the ipsilateral side. Lesions to the face area in the primary sensory cortex were, however, associated with a lower incidence of severe and persistent sensory deficits when compared to previous results on the effects of lesions to the hand area on the sensory capacity of the hand. These results suggest that there is some preservation of sensory function after damage to the face area in the primary sensory cortex, presumably due to the bilateral representation of the face.

Adolescent↗