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Biomedical subjects

M B Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to M B Taylor.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis. Successful treatment with the carbon dioxide laser.

Chondrodermatitis nodularis chronica helicis is a painful, persistent, or recurrent inflammatory lesion involving the cartilage and skin of the external ear. These lesions are resistant to many therapeutic modalities and often recur even after surgical excision. The CO2 laser was used to vaporize the cutaneous nodules and involved cartilage. The wounds were allowed to heal with only minimal care using hydrogen peroxide cleansing and applications of topical antibiotic ointment. Twelve lesions have been treated with no recurrences after 2 to 15 months. There have been no complications or infections following laser surgery. The pain from these lesions is gone immediately following laser surgery. Healing with excellent cosmetic results is complete usually within 3 to 4 weeks.

Aged↗

Separation of Pneumocystis carinii from the lung of the steroid-suppressed rat.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was induced in rats by chronic corticosteroid immunosuppression. The parasite was separated from virtually all contaminating host cells using the technique of unit gravity sedimentation. Cellular contamination was routinely below 0.02%. The same technique allowed partial separation of the cyst from the trophozoite stage.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

The many variations of surgical gastrostomy for nutritional support or for long-term gastric decompression all have a significant morbidity and mortality. An 'incisionless' technique under local anaesthesia, namely percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, was described in 1980. A review of the literature shows that the percutaneous technique is safer for the patient, easier and faster to perform and considerably cheaper than surgical gastrostomy. As the few complications usually require surgical management, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy should be considered a surgical technique. Few patients are unsuitable for the percutaneous endoscopic technique and this route should be considered for all patients referred for a gastrostomy.

Enteral Nutrition↗

Platelet-activating factor- and leukotriene B4-induced release of lactoferrin from blood neutrophils of atopic and nonatopic individuals.

We found increased accumulation of neutrophils and their components, lactoferrin (Lf) and elastase, as well as platelet-activating factor (PAF) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) at sites of ongoing human allergic reactions. To determine whether PAF or LTB4, could be the stimulus for in vivo Lf release, blood neutrophils of 17 subjects were incubated with PAF, LTB4, or the phorbol ester, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), and the released Lf (ELISA assay) was compared with spontaneous release. Significantly increased Lf release was induced by PAF, 10(-5) to 10(-8) mol/L (p less than 0.002); LTB4, 10(-7) to 10(-8) mol/L (p less than 0.004); and PMA (0.05 micrograms/ml) in a dose-dependent reaction. Cytochalasin was not required for Lf secretion but did enhance such responses. PAF-induced Lf secretion was inhibited by the specific PAF antagonist, BN 52063. More Lf was released from neutrophils of atopic than from nonatopic subjects in response to PAF, 10(-6) mol/L (4.2 micrograms/ml +/- 0.2 versus 2.6 micrograms/ml +/- 0.2; p less than 0.001) but not to LTB4, PMA, or buffer (p, not significant). We conclude that (1) PAF and LTB4 released in vivo could stimulate local neutrophils to release Lf with possible pathogenic effects and (2) neutrophils of atopic subjects are more responsive to PAF than neutrophils of nonatopic subjects in this regard.

Adult↗

Successful treatment of warts. Choosing the best method for each situation.

The success of wart therapy and its acceptance by the patient are greatly influenced by a complete understanding of treatment options--their effectiveness, proper application, and side effects. Each wart is a separate therapeutic problem and should be treated in a manner appropriate for that lesion. Cryosurgery, electrosurgery, and chemical destruction are the primary forms of therapy for uncomplicated warts. Recalcitrant, plantar, mosaic, and periungual warts can be effectively treated with intralesional injections of bleomycin (Blenoxane), carbon dioxide laser surgery, or immunotherapy.

Bleomycin↗

Hepatitis D virus and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies in parenteral drug abusers who are hepatitis B surface antigen positive.

We studied unselected, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive parenteral drug abusers for antibody to hepatitis D virus (anti-HD) and antibody to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The prevalences of anti-HD and antibody to HIV were 67% and 58%, respectively, and there was no association between positivity for these two markers. In a logistic regression model, anti-HD was associated with older age (P = .001), longer duration of drug abuse (P = .045), and the presence of liver disease (P = .002). Antibody to HIV was associated with a younger age (P = .003) and increased serum globulin levels (P less than .001). In patients infected with HIV, the severity of hepatic dysfunction remained correlated with anti-HD. In anti-HD-positive patients, most indices of hepatic dysfunction were similar whether or not antibody to HIV was present, but serum aspartate aminotransferase levels were significantly higher in patients with both anti-HD and antibody to HIV. (124 +/- 16 vs. 74 +/- 11, P less than .05).

AIDS-Related Complex↗

An examination of the relationships between home health service use and primary diagnosis of patient.

This paper analyses the relationships between home health service use and primary diagnosis of patient. Relationships examined include: patient distribution by diagnosis, visit distribution by diagnosis, average number of visits per patient and standard deviation, by diagnosis. Reliability of diagnosis as a predictor or service use is examined by a scatter graph comparison of the mean number of visits per patient, by diagnosis, between two randomly assigned groups of agencies. Survey data indicate that circulatory system diseases are the largest diagnostic category in both patient and visit count, constituting approximately 25% of all visits. Neoplasms (11% of visits) and diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (10% of visits) are also strongly represented. Although the range of means for average number of visits is large, the scatter graph analysis gave evidence of relationship between diagnosis and service use.

Catchment Area, Health↗

Who's the boss? Ethical conflicts in home care.

In 1987 a committee of the Home Health Assembly of New Jersey began a study of ethical issues in home care situations where the autonomy of the elderly patient is at risk. The study was based on four case histories describing actual situations of elderly patients, their families, and the professional practice of nursing and social work in the home. To determine concerns of home health agency administrators and their staffs, the committee did surveys, held round-table discussions, and conducted telephone interviews. As a result, it identified four key ethical concerns: 1. Maintaining agency solvency without denying care to patients who lack adequate financial resources. 2. Responding to the conflicting needs of patients and families. 3. Practicing healthcare in situations where patients may be abused or neglected. 4. Addressing decisions about candor and treatment in the care of the terminally ill. The committee identified five characteristics unique to the home care setting that create challenging situations which are rare in other healthcare settings: 1. Strongly asserted autonomy. 2. Limited definition of communal values. 3. Patient isolation. 4. Patient dependency on family care givers. 5. Inadequate long-term care policies.

Aged↗

Ventilatory effects of a propofol infusion using a method to rapidly achieve steady-state equilibrium.

The ventilatory effects of a propofol infusion were studied in 10 females premedicated with atropine and nine with papaveretum and atropine. The infusion, at a rate of 20 mg kg-1 h-1 for 5 min, reducing to 12 mg kg-1 h-1 for 10 min and then 6 mg kg-1 h-1 thereafter, was known to produce a steady-state plasma propofol concentration for 20-25 min after 25 min from commencement. Minute ventilation, tidal volume, frequency and response to breathing carbon dioxide were measured before the infusion and during the steady-state period. Propofol decreased minute ventilation to 56% and 46% (P less than 0.01) of their mean control values in the atropine and papaveretum groups, respectively. Mean tidal volume was decreased to 41-44% (P less than 0.02) by propofol, but a tachypnoea observed in the atropine group during the infusion was absent in the papaveretum group. Propofol alone had no effect on the slopes of the carbon dioxide response curves but did produce a shift to the right (P less than 0.05). Following papaveretum premedication the minute ventilation-carbon dioxide response curve slope, was decreased to 55% of its mean control volume value by the infusion, but this failed to reach statistical significance.

Atropine↗

Trypanosoma cruzi: subcellular distribution of glycolytic and some related enzymes of epimastigotes.

The first six glycolytic enzymes in epimastigote Trypanosoma cruzi were shown to behave similarly during differential centrifugation, when maximum relative specific activity was found in the small granule fraction, and by isopycnic centrifugation, when the bulk of each activity coequilibrated on sucrose gradients with a modal density of 1.23 g/ml. All six showed substantial detergent latency in whole cell homogenates. Electron microscopic examination of fractions from a sucrose gradient with modal density 1.23 g/ml showed the presence of single membrane bound vesicles of diameter 0.2-0.8 micron. It was concluded that these six enzymes were contained in a microbodylike organelle, termed the "glycosome." Phosphoglucose isomerase (EC 5.3.1.9) also possessed substantial soluble activity. No microbody marker enzyme described in other sources could be detected. Peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) had an insignificant glycosomal component. Enzymes of amino acid and fatty acid metabolism were not detected in microbody fractions. Marker enzymes for the flagellar pocket and plasma membrane were suggested.

Amino Acids↗

Acute ventilatory changes during i.v. induction of anaesthesia with thiopentone or propofol in man. Studies using inductance plethysmography.

We have compared the acute ventilatory changes during induction of anaesthesia with equipotent doses of thiopentone and propofol in 12 premedicated female patients. Using ventilatory inductance plethysmography we have shown that both agents depress respiration to a similar and significant degree (P less than 0.001). However, although the functional residual capacity was reduced in patients receiving propofol, it increased slightly after induction with thiopentone (P less than 0.05).

Adult↗

Paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria. Peri-operative management of a patient with Budd-Chiari syndrome.

The peri-operative management of a patient with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria and associated hypoplastic anaemia, who underwent successful elective surgery for the complication of Budd-Chiari syndrome, is described. Anaesthesia in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria should be based on drugs and materials least likely to cause complement activation. The reasons for use of a technique based on benzodiazepines, opioids, isoflurane and the avoidance of nitrous oxide are discussed.

Adult↗

Susceptibility and resistance of ruminal bacteria to antimicrobial feed additives.

Susceptibility and resistance of ruminal bacterial species to avoparcin, narasin, salinomycin, thiopeptin, tylosin, virginiamycin, and two new ionophore antibiotics, RO22-6924/004 and RO21-6447/009, were determined. Generally, antimicrobial compounds were inhibitory to gram-positive bacteria and those bacteria that have gram-positive-like cell wall structure. MICs ranged from 0.09 to 24.0 micrograms/ml. Gram-negative bacteria were resistant at the highest concentration tested (48.0 micrograms/ml). On the basis of their fermentation products, ruminal bacteria that produce lactic acid, butyric acid, formic acid, or hydrogen were susceptible and bacteria that produce succinic acid or ferment lactic acid were resistant to the antimicrobial compounds. Selenomonas ruminantium was the only major lactic acid-producing bacteria resistant to all the antimicrobial compounds tested. Avoparcin and tylosin appeared to be less inhibitory (MIC greater than 6.0 micrograms/ml) than the other compounds to the two major lactic acid-producing bacteria, Streptococcus bovis and Lactobacillus sp. Ionophore compounds seemed to be more inhibitory (MIC, 0.09 to 1.50 micrograms/ml) than nonionophore compounds (MIC, 0.75 to 12.0 micrograms/ml) to the major butyric acid-producing bacteria. Treponema bryantii, an anaerobic rumen spirochete, was less sensitive to virginiamycin than to the other antimicrobial compounds. Ionophore compounds were generally bacteriostatic, and nonionophore compounds were bactericidal. The specific growth rate of Bacteroides ruminicola was reduced by all the antimicrobial compounds except avoparcin. The antibacterial spectra of the feed additives were remarkably similar, and it appears that MICs may not be good indicators of the potency of the compounds in altering ruminal fermentation characteristics.

Animal Feed↗