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Biomedical subjects

M Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to M Taylor.

At least 415 records · Page 23Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Small bowel bacterial overgrowth in systemic sclerosis: detection using direct and indirect methods and treatment outcome.

Twenty-four patients with proven systemic sclerosis and with symptoms suggestive of malabsorption (i.e. chronic diarrhoea and weight loss) were investigated for small bowel bacterial overgrowth. Of the patients selected, six were suffering from the diffuse form of the disease. Jejunal aspiration was performed in all patients, and in nine normal volunteers. A specially designed double-lumen sterile catheter was used for this purpose and was introduced via a gastroscope. Twenty of these patients underwent a glucose hydrogen breath test. Eight patients (33%) had significant bacterial counts: > 10(5) colony forming units per ml (cfu/ml) of jejunal fluid. Less than 10(2) cfu/ml were found in the jejunal fluid from the nine control subjects. Glucose hydrogen breath testing was positive in seven patients, all of whom had significant jejunal bacterial growth. Diarrhoea rather than weight loss was shown to be the symptom which correlated best with the presence of bacterial overgrowth. Ciprofloxacin was used in six patients whose diarrhoeal symptoms ceased dramatically within 48 h of commencing the antibiotic. Trimethoprim produced a partial response despite bacterial sensitivity. A disadvantage of the hydrogen breath test is that subsequent antibacterial therapy cannot be specific, as bacterial species, antibiotic sensitivity and resistance are unknown. Systemic sclerosis involving the small intestine in the past has been said to more prevalent in patients with diffuse disease, whereas this study showed a preponderance of patients with long-standing limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis and small bowel involvement.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Modafinil, d-amphetamine and placebo during 64 hours of sustained mental work. I. Effects on mood, fatigue, cognitive performance and body temperature.

Modafinil is an alerting substance that is considered safer than amphetamine with fewer side effects. Although modafinil has been used successfully to treat narcolepsy, relatively little is known about its ability to ameliorate fatigue and declines in mental performance due to sleep deprivation (SD) in a normal population. Forty-one military subjects received either 300 mg of modafinil, 20 mg of d-amphetamine, or placebo on 3 separate occasions during 64 hours of continuous cognitive work and sleep loss. Three drug treatments were given: at 23.30 hours and 05.30 hours during the first and second SD nights, respectively, and once at 15.30 hours during the third day of continuous work. Subjective estimates of mood, fatigue and sleepiness, as well as objective measures of reaction time, logical reasoning and short-term memory clearly showed better performance with both modafinil and amphetamine relative to placebo. Both modafinil and amphetamine maintained or increased body temperature compared to the natural circadian cycle observed in the placebo group. Also, from subject debriefs at the end of the study, modafinil elicited fewer side-effects than amphetamine, although more than the placebo group. Modafinil appears to be a good alternative to amphetamine for counteracting the debilitating mood and cognitive effects of sleep loss during sustained operations.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Antibody responses to suspected periodontal pathogens in elderly subjects with periodontal disease.

Little is known about the relationship of aging to periodontal disease. The immune response undergoes aging-related changes resulting in loss of functional capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between levels of serum IgG antibodies against suspected periodontal pathogenic microorganisms to the presence or absence of periodontal disease in an elderly (65-75 yrs) population. From this study, we obtained information concerning: (1) the ability to differentiate elderly individuals without disease from those with disease by their levels of antibodies against periodontal pathogens and (2) which periodontal pathogen(s) triggered those responses. IgG anti- Porphyromonas gingivalis (strains W83 and 381) levels in the serum of elderly patients with severe periodontal disease were the only antibody responses measured which were elevated compared to the elderly control group of subjects with no periodontal disease. Anti- Prevotella intermedia IgG levels in both elderly patient groups were depressed compared to anti- P. intermedia levels in the young normal control subjects. Serum IgG antibody levels to six other plaque microorganisms did not differentiate between diseased and normal, elderly or young subjects. This data suggested that P. gingivalis was associated with periodontal disease in this elderly group of individuals and that those elderly individuals were able to respond with a normal IgG immune response.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

[Isolation and expression of recombinant diagnostic antigen gene of Schistosoma japonicum].

The sera of patients with chronic infection of Schistosoma japonicum (Sj) were used for screening the cDNA expression library constructed from Sj adult worm, and an antigen-positive clone Sjgt4 which expressed an 148 KD fusion protein was identified. The inserted Sj cDNA fragment was amplified by PCR and subcloned into the vector pGEX with high level of expression. A positive clone SjpG5 which expressed a fusion protein with a molecular weight of 58 KD was obtained. When the fusion protein was used for detection of Sj patients' sera by Western blot, 24 out of 25 sera were positive, a positive rate of 96%.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Targeted chemotherapy for parasite infestations in rural black preschool children.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether targeted chemotherapy can reduce parasite prevalence rates in rural black preschool children. DESIGN: The study consisted of a before/after trial. Stool and urine samples were analysed on four occasions over a 21-week period. SETTING: Crèches in two rural areas of southern KwaZulu/Natal (coastal and inland). PATIENTS: Two hundred children of 4-6 years of age attending 19 crèches in the area. INTERVENTION: Targeted chemotherapy using albendazole for nematode infestations, praziquantel for trematode and cestode infestations and metronidazole for protozoal infections was administered twice at an interval of 14 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Prevalence rates. RESULTS: The prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Necator americanus infestation decreased significantly after treatment. Reinfestation rates 12 weeks after treatment were 16% for A. lumbricoides, 33% for T. trichiura, 24% for Giardia lamblia and 3% for N. americanus. No reinfestation was noted for Schistosoma haematobium, Hymenolepsis or Taenia species. CONCLUSION: The study suggests that parasite prevalence rates in children can be reduced by the administration of appropriate chemotherapy at regular intervals. However, the provision of clean water and adequate sewerage facilities remains a high priority for black communities living in rural areas of South Africa.

Black or African American↗
PubMed1994

Resistance to amphotericin B associated with defective sterol delta 8-->7 isomerase in a Cryptococcus neoformans strain from an AIDS patient.

Two Cryptococcus neoformans strains isolated from an AIDS patient were investigated, a pretreatment isolate (CN1) and a second isolate (CN3) following failure of fluconazole and amphotericin B treatment. No difference in fluconazole sensitivity, but relative resistance to amphotericin B was observed for CN3. The sterol composition of CN3 indicated a defect in sterol delta 8-->7 isomerase in this strain and depletion of ergosterol, the major sterol of the CN1.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1994

Salvage treatment for local recurrence following breast-conserving surgery and definitive irradiation for ductal carcinoma in situ (intraductal carcinoma) of the breast.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the outcome of salvage treatment for local recurrence in the breast following the initial treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (intraductal carcinoma) with breast-conserving surgery and definitive breast irradiation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: An analysis was performed of 42 local failures in the breast that occurred following the initial treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (intraductal carcinoma) with breast-conserving surgery and definitive breast irradiation. At the time of the local recurrence, 23 cases (55%) showed invasive ductal carcinoma, and 19 cases (45%) showed intraductal carcinoma, one with associated Paget's disease. The surgical treatment at the time of local recurrence included mastectomy (n = 39), excision (n = 2), or other (n = 1). Adjuvant systemic therapy at the time of local recurrence included chemotherapy (n = 2), hormonal treatment (n = 7), both (n = 1), or none (n = 32). The median follow-up after salvage treatment was 3.7 years (mean = 4.0 years; range = 0.1-9.5 years). RESULTS: The 5-year actuarial outcome following salvage treatment for the 42 local recurrences showed an overall survival rate of 78% and a cause-specific survival rate of 84%. The 5-year actuarial rate of freedom from distant metastases was 86%. None of the patients with histology of the local recurrence of intraductal carcinoma or with detection of the local recurrence with mammographic findings only developed distant metastatic disease after salvage treatment. The 5-year actuarial rate of freedom from chest wall recurrence following salvage mastectomy was 92%. All three of the patients who developed chest wall recurrence following salvage mastectomy also developed distant metastatic disease. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that local recurrences following the initial treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ with breast-conserving surgery and definitive breast irradiation can be salvaged with high rates of survival, freedom from distant metastases, and freedom from chest wall recurrence. The results of salvage treatment support the use of breast-conserving surgery and definitive breast irradiation for the initial management of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A mono isocentric technique for breast and regional nodal therapy using dual asymmetric jaws.

PURPOSE: Definitive radiation therapy for breast cancer with regional nodal involvement often introduces treatment of adjacent abutted regions. Many methods describe techniques to achieve an effective transverse plane match. Our facility recently adopted a matching technique using asymmetric jaws to beam-split all portals along the central axis plane. Our technique uses one isocenter to treat the opposed tangential breast fields, the supraclavicular port and the posterior axillary field. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Our linear accelerator has four collimator jaws capable of being set independently. The longitudinal (Y) jaws beam-split all the portals at the match plane, namely the upper border of the tangential beams and the bottom border of the nodal fields. The transverse (X) jaws define the lateral borders of the nodal fields, and in a near beam-split fashion in conjunction with customized Cerrobend, block the lung for the tangential beams. The unique isocenter is chosen along the mid-bridge through the tangential match plane. Dosimetric qualities and calculational techniques of the asymmetric beams were analyzed with ionimetric water scans, ion chamber studies, and film. The match-line is clinically confirmed with composite port films. RESULTS: Our dosimetric studies show asymmetric jaws provide nearly equivalent field edge definition and superior absorption in comparison with Cerrobend blocks. The use of one isocenter results in a reduction of in-room treatment time by a factor of two. The burden of lifting heavy Cerrobend blocks has been removed. A composite port film, which includes the medial tangential and supraclavicular ports, shows a perfect match-line in all cases. Similar composite port films taken with our previous technique of geometric matching with collimator and table angulation exhibit slight overlap or underdose regions in many cases. CONCLUSION: Our treatment technique takes full advantage of dual asymmetric jaws to achieve a perfect match-line, necessitates only one isocenter and set-up point, and supplies more absorption in reference to lung and contralateral breast dose. The pure match-line is accompanied by the fact that the patient does not have to move in any direction.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed1994

In situ hybridization studies of hepatitis A viral RNA in patients with acute hepatitis A.

In situ hybridization with oligonucleotide probes has been used to localise hepatitis A virus RNA genomic sequences in formalin-fixed and routinely processed human liver biopsies from three patients. Using radiolabelled Sulphur-35 antisense probes, viral genomic sequences were found in all three cases, but signal intensity was greatest in cases 1 and 2 with fulminant hepatitis, and was minimal in the third case of resolving hepatitis biopsied 2 months after acute illness. Localisation showed the viral RNA to be present in hepatocytes, sinusoidal cells and inflammatory cells in and around the portal tracts. Both cases showed signal in similar cell types, but the distribution of staining was predominantly periportal in case 1, whereas lobular staining was more apparent in case 2. Hybridization with sense polarity probes failed to detect any evidence of replicative intermediates of antigenomic viral RNA. The presence of hepatitis A RNA in phagocytic cells was confirmed using immunohistochemistry for a macrophage marker, CD68, combined with in situ hybridization. In all cases the signal was predominantly cytoplasmic, and this was confirmed with the use of tritiated probes.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1994

Verbal memory performance of patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection: evidence of subcortical dysfunction. The HNRC Group.

In the present study, the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT) was administered to symptomatic HIV+ (n = 31), asymptomatic HIV+ (n = 94), and HIV-normal control (HIV-NC) (n = 40) subjects to assess the prevalence and nature of their verbal memory deficits. Symptomatic HIV+ subjects were significantly impaired relative to HIV-control subjects on CVLT measures of acquisition and retention, and were significantly less likely than control subjects to use a semantic clustering strategy to support recall. The performance of the asymptomatic HIV+ subjects fell between those of the symptomatic HIV+ subjects and HIV-controls on almost every CVLT measure. A linear discriminant function analysis (DFA) was used to compare the performances of these three groups to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Huntington's disease (HD), and normal control (NC) subjects on three CVLT measures, including total recall over five learning trials, intrusion errors, and a derived score of delayed recognition discriminability minus the final learning trial. Significant differences were found between the number of symptomatic HIV+ subjects classified as HD (32%), AD (3%), and normal (65%), the number of asymptomatic HIV+ subjects classified as HD (16%), AD (1%), and normal (83%), and the number of HIV-NC subjects classified as HD (2%), AD (0%), and normal (98%). The profile of verbal memory deficits exhibited by the subgroup of impaired HIV+ subjects was similar to that of patients with HD, a prototypical subcortical dementia, and different from that of patients with AD, a prototypical cortical dementia. This finding is consistent with reports of the predominance of subcortical neuropathological changes associated with HIV infection.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1994

Macrophage infiltration into the porcine corpus luteum during prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced luteolysis.

Although it has been reported that the number of macrophages increases in the pig CL at the time of luteolysis, the temporal association between this infiltration and the sequence of events involved in luteolysis has not been established. In the current study, single CL on an ovary of estrogen-treated pseudopregnant gilts were induced to undergo luteolysis after the introduction of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF)-impregnated silastic implants on Day 13 (Day 0 = first day of estrus). Other CL on the same ovary were treated with implant material only (vehicle-implanted) or left unimplanted. At 6, 12, and 24 h after implant placement, CL were removed and progesterone concentrations as well as the number and location of macrophages within each CL were determined. Progesterone concentrations declined significantly (p < 0.05) by 12 and 24 h postimplantation in PGF-treated CL but not in vehicle-implanted or unimplanted CL. There was a significant influx (p < 0.05) of macrophages at 6 h in all implanted CL (PGF or vehicle-implanted) as compared with unimplanted CL. In PGF-treated CL, macrophage numbers progressively increased through 24 h. In contrast, although a macrophage influx also occurred in vehicle-implanted CL at 6 h, macrophage numbers progressively declined through 24 h. The simplest explanation for these data is that the initial rise in macrophage numbers at 6 h after CL implantation is a result of the implantation procedure itself. Further, the observation that most of the influx of macrophages occurred after the decrease in progesterone concentration in PGF-treated CL is consistent with their role in phagocytosis of cellular debris.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Juxtaglomerular cell tumor. An immunohistochemical, electron-microscopic, and in situ hybridization study.

We present a case of juxtaglomerular cell tumor (JCT) in a 10-year-old boy. The child suffered from severe hypertension that returned to normal following the tumor resection. The diagnosis of JCT was supported by electron-microscopic findings of typical rhomboid secretory granules and by immunohistochemistry using a polyclonal antibody against active and inactive forms of renin. The production of renin by the tumor cells was confirmed by demonstration of specific renin mRNA by in situ hybridization (ISH). The immunohistochemistry also showed a weak positivity of renin in the media of interlobular arteries and in the epithelial cells of proximal tubules. The ISH was negative for renin mRNA at these sites, indicating that renin positivity was due to an uptake of renin rather than to renin production. The juxtaglomerular apparatuses in the adjacent renal cortex were negative for renin, suggesting a compensatory inhibition mechanism by the hyperreninemia. The tumor was encapsulated by a fibrous tissue, but the capsule was penetrated by clusters of the tumor cells--an indication of the tumor's invasive capability.

Adenocarcinoma↗