Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M R Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to M R Taylor.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1992

Extraplacental human fetal tissues express mRNA transcripts encoding the human chorionic gonadotropin-beta subunit protein.

The glycoprotein hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is synthesized in large quantities by the developing placenta, reaching peak concentrations in maternal blood during the late first trimester and early midtrimester of pregnancy. In general it is believed that the alpha-subunit of this dimeric hormone is expressed in pituitary gonadotropes, thyrotropes, and trophoblasts, while the beta-subunit is expressed exclusively by trophoblasts. Studies from our laboratory and other laboratories have shown that some midtrimester human fetal tissues, in addition to the placenta, can synthesize proteins that appear to be very similar to the beta-subunit of hCG. To define precisely the nature of this putative hCG-beta-subunit in extraplacental fetal tissues, we have examined the mRNA from a variety of human fetal and adult tissues using nucleic acid hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Our results demonstrate that midtrimester fetal kidney and adrenal tissues contain hCG-beta mRNA transcripts at concentrations comparable to that of placenta, while fetal lung, brain, muscle, and adult adrenal contain only trace to undetectable levels of hCG-beta mRNA. By restriction endonuclease mapping of PCR fragments from fetal tissue cDNAs, we show that the hCG-beta transcript expressed in midtrimester human fetal organs is a bone fide copy of hCG-beta gene No. 5 of the beta-subunit gene family located on chromosome 19.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Families, parks, gardens and toxocariasis.

Toxocara canis antibody titres were measured in members of 30 families. 73/140 (52.1%) family members were seropositive for T. canis at a dilution greater than or equal to 1:50 and 11 (7.8%) had reciprocal titres greater than or equal to 800. Toxocara ova were sought (a) in relation to the 30 families and (b) in the community. No toxocara ova were found in household dust samples. 38% of family gardens contained toxocara ova while 6% of soil samples from public parks and open spaces around housing estates were positive. None of the faecal specimens from pet dogs were positive for toxocara ova as compared to 6.2% of stray dogs. 5.3% of canine faecal samples from the streets contained toxocara ova. In this study household garden soil was a potentially greater source of toxocara infection than soil in public parks and open spaces.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Use of ampicillin-sulbactam before and after formulary inclusion.

The use of ampicillin-sulbactam before and after the product was formally placed on a hospital formulary is described. In October 1987 the pharmacy and therapeutics committee at an acute-care institution granted ampicillin-sulbactam temporary formulary inclusion on the condition that its use be audited. Formal inclusion was to be based on the results of this preinclusion audit. A second audit was to be performed if formal inclusion was granted. The data were collated after each audit, and for each patient an infectious-disease consultant proposed an alternative antimicrobial regimen representing what would probably have been prescribed had ampicillin-sulbactam not been available. Sixty-four patients received the product during the six-month preinclusion audit period. Ampicillin-sulbactam was given to 37% of the patients for indications listed in FDA-approved labeling. The dosage was considered appropriate in 88% of the patients. Clinical outcome was considered successful in 84% of the patients who received the product for known infections. Therapy with ampicillin-sulbactam was less expensive (by $4125) in 35 patients and more costly (by $1523) in 29 patients; the projected annual savings were $7805. After formal inclusion on the formulary, ampicillin-sulbactam was prescribed for some 700 patients over a 16-month period. A review in 49 patients showed appropriate indication and dosage for 63% and 84% of the patients, respectively, and an 84% rate of therapeutic success. The extrapolated cost savings were $26,429 per year. After formulary inclusion, the use of ampicillin-sulbactam increased, as did the frequency of its use for indications appearing in FDA-approved labeling.

Ampicillin↗
PubMed1989

Growth and other factors affecting peak expiratory flow rate.

By means of a simple questionnaire and measurements of height, weight, and peak expiratory flow rates 3061 children from city and rural populations were studied. Children with asthma or other respiratory diseases had lower peak expiratory flow rates, and younger children living in rural areas had higher rates. In 2828 healthy children the peak expiratory flow rate increased with age, height, and weight. There was an increase in the slope of this line for both age and height--at 12 years and 145 cm in girls, and at 14 years and 155 cm in boys. This continued for two to three years and 15 cm, respectively, before it declined. Previous surveys have obscured this change associated with height by reporting small numbers and using linear regression analysis. This type of analysis can underestimate the mean peak expiratory flow rate of small children by half to one standard deviation. A centile graph against age is recommended to describe normal values and their differences.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Resident parents and shorter hospital stay.

A total of 586 admissions for 12 medical conditions were reviewed. The stay of children accompanied by a resident parent was 31% shorter than those whose parents were not resident. Resident parents benefit the emotional well being of the child and increase hospital efficiency; accommodation for parents should therefore be an integral part of a unit admitting children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

The expanded spectrum of toxocaral disease.

Among 137 members of 30 families, 6% (and 8% of those aged under 15 years) were seropositive for toxocara antibodies. In these seropositive subjects and in 84 patients known to have raised toxocara titres the commonest clinical features were abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, sleep and behaviour disturbances, pneumonia, cough, wheeze, pharyngitis, cervical adenitis, headache, limb pains, and fever. 61% of patients with raised toxocara titres had recurrent abdominal pain. Eosinophilia was in many cases associated with a raised toxocara titre, but 27% of patients with high titres had normal eosinophil counts. Toxocariasis is common, especially in children, and is associated with clinical features that are generally regarded as non-specific but together form a recognisable symptom complex. Toxocariasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of such symptoms and especially in recurrent abdominal pain, which might otherwise be labelled as idiopathic. The absence of eosinophilia does not exclude toxocariasis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Clinical trial of cefuroxime axetil in children.

Cefuroxime axetil tablets were given to 12 children (aged 19 months to 13.5 years) for a total of 14 episodes of lower respiratory tract infection. Doses ranged from 15 to 32 mg/kg/day. Six infections were regarded as cured and seven improved. In four cases, Haemophilus influenzae was present at the end of treatment. Serum levels of cefuroxime showed great variability. Absorption and penetration of the drug into the lower respiratory mucosa may not be sufficient to kill organisms which are sensitive in vitro. Cefuroxime axetil tablets were acceptable to most children.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1987

Clinical features of covert toxocariasis.

The clinical features found in 14 children with toxocara ELISA titres of greater than or equal to 0.7 were compared with those found in 34 toxocara negative children. Blood eosinophils were elevated in 7 of the 14 patients and the highest eosinophilia was 14%. There was a highly significant association between hepatomegaly, cough, sleep disturbance and a raised titre (p less than 0.01). Behaviour disturbance, abdominal pain and headache were also significantly associated with a raised titre (p less than 0.05). The combination of abdominal pain, headache and cough was even more significantly associated with a high titre (p less than 0.0005) than were individual clinical features. It is suggested that in addition to the two well recognised clinical conditions of visceral larva migrans and ocular toxocariasis the clinical entity of covert toxocariasis should receive recognition. Eosinophilia may or may not be present in this condition.

Abdomen↗
PubMed1986

Toxic shock syndrome associated with TSST-1 producing coagulase-negative staphylococci.

Coagulase-positive staphylococci have been isolated from more than 95% of cases of toxic shock syndrome (TSS). Toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) is produced in more than 90% of cases. A case is described of recurrent TSS in which a coagulase-negative staphylococcus was isolated from the vagina and produced TSST-1. No coagulase-positive staphylococci were isolated. Coagulase-negative staphylococci should be considered as causative agents in cases of TSS. Assay for TSST-1 should be performed on coagulase-negative staphylococci obtained from the appropriate clinical sites if no coagulase-positive staphylococci are isolated.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

California encephalitis virus causes subacute encephalomyelitis in an adult.

A 24-year-old man from rural Mississippi had a case of California encephalitis (CE) that evolved as a subacute encephalomyelitis. The incidence of CE in adults is low, especially in the southeastern United States, and to our knowledge the clinical profile of symptomatic disease in adults has not been established. The characteristics of CE and St Louis encephalitis, the usual cause of arboviral illness affecting adults in the Southeast, differ.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Branhamella catarrhalis endocarditis in a patient receiving hemodialysis.

While Branhamella catarrhalis is now recognized as an important pathogen, this is only the fifth reported case of endocarditis caused by it. The production of beta-lactamase by many strains and its resistance to vancomycin and clindamycin complicate the choice of antibiotic therapy.

Aortic Valve Insufficiency↗
PubMed1985

Nosocomial pneumonia caused by a glucose-metabolizing strain of Neisseria cinerea.

We describe what appears to be the first reported case of nosocomial pneumonia caused by Neisseria cinerea. The isolate metabolized glucose when tested in BACTEC Neisseria Differentiation Kits (Johnston Laboratories), but did not produce detectable acid in cystine-Trypticase (BBL Microbiology Systems) agar medium or in modified oxidation-fermentation medium. Clinical laboratories that rely on the BACTEC method for differentiation of pathogenic neisseriae should be aware of the fact that N. cinerea may mimic N. gonorrhoeae when tested in BACTEC Neisseria Differentiation kits. The ability of N. cinerea to grow well on tryptic soy and Mueller-Hinton agars and its inability to grow on modified Thayer-Martin medium are characteristics which help to distinguish N. cinerea from N. gonorrhoeae.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Ultrastructural changes in Blastomyces dermatitidis after in vitro exposure to lidocaine.

Electron microscopic examination of yeasts of Blastomyces dermatitidis, exposed in vitro to concentrations of lidocaine that occur when the drug is used for topical anesthesia, showed that lidocaine rapidly damaged intracellular structures. The extent of damage was dependent on the concentration of drug and length of exposure. The observed ultrastructural changes were very similar to those reported for other drugs that directly damage membranes. This relationship suggests that the antifungal effect of lidocaine is the result of direct membrane damage.

Blastomyces↗