Search PubMedSearch

Biomedical subjects

P R Jones

Publications and source records attributed to P R Jones.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Brisk walking improves endurance fitness without changing body fatness in previously sedentary women.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of brisk walking on endurance fitness and the amount and distribution of body fat in previously sedentary women. Twenty eight women [mean age (SEM): 44.9 (1.5) years] followed the walking programme for 1 year, whilst 16 acted as controls [age 44.4 (2.3) years]. Changes in endurance fitness were evaluated by measuring the oxygen uptake (VO2) at a reference blood lactate concentration of 2 mmol.l-1. Two 1.61-km field tests of walking were completed, one at maximal speed and one at a "brisk" speed, as well as a 1.61-km walk on a motorised treadmill. The amount and distribution of body fat was determined by hydrostatic weighing and anthropometry and energy intake was evaluated using the 7-day weighed food intake method. Walkers completed an average of 157 min.week-1 of brisk walking over the year. The following were increased in walkers, relative to controls: brisk walking speed [walkers 1.73 (0.05) m.s-1 vs 1.88 (0.07) m.s-1; controls 1.69 (0.05) m.s-1 vs 1.70 (0.05) m.s-1 at baseline and 12 months respectively, P < 0.01], maximal walking speed and VO2 at 2 mmol.l-1. In addition, brisk walking reduced heart rate and blood lactate concentration during stepping as well as during standard, submaximal treadmill walking. It did not modify either the amount or the distribution of body fat, despite an unchanged energy intake.

Adipose Tissue

Bending and fracture of the femoral component in cemented total hip replacement.

A computer method was used to make 41 measurements on the geometry of insertion of the femoral component in 200 Charnley total hip replacements. Surgery had been performed at least 12 years before, giving results which were classified as: success (90); fracture (56); or loose (54), according to rigid selection criteria. Fracture was associated with heavier patients in which there was poor proximal fixation of the femoral component but adequate distal fixation. Stems with a medial disposition proximally were more common in the fracture group than in the successful or loose groups. Sequential measurements of bending and subsequent fracture were made on the follow-up radiographs of 24 of the 200 cases (6 fracture and 18 successful). These measurements allowed bending to be detected at an earlier stage than by simple inspection of the radiographs.

Aged

Aseptic loosening of the femoral component in cemented total hip replacement.

The purpose of this study was to identify factors which predispose to aseptic loosening of the femoral component in cemented total hip replacement. Its design was based on rigid selection criteria, so that successful and loose replacements which employed the same surgical technique were compared. Measurements of patient anatomy and of the insertion of the femoral component were made, by an accurate computer technique, on initial post-operative radiographs. Loosening was associated with heavier patients with a wider medullary canal which was flared proximally. This difference in anatomy led to differing distributions of cement in the successful and loose replacements. Medial cement-bone demarcation, at the mid-stem level, was also associated with loosening. These findings indicate the importance of optimizing the size of the prosthesis with respect to the femoral morphology.

Bone Cements

Influence of brisk walking on the broadband ultrasonic attenuation of the calcaneus in previously sedentary women aged 30-61 years.

The amount and type of exercise needed to maintain or increase bone density in women is unclear. The purpose of the present study was to examine the influence of brisk walking on broadband ultrasonic attenuation (BUA) values for the calcaneus in formerly sedentary women aged 30-61 years (mean 44). Twenty-five women followed the program of brisk walking for 1 year and 15 acted as controls. The walkers completed an average (SEM) of 159 (46) minutes/week of brisk walking at a speed of 1.72 (0.05) meters/second, i.e., about 16-18 km/week. Broadband ultrasonic attenuation was determined at baseline and after 1 year. Analysis of variance showed that values were increased (P less than 0.05) for the walkers relative to controls [walkers 103.3 (4.9) versus 116.1 (3.8) dB/MHz; controls 103.6 (5.5) versus 99.6 (5.4) dB/MHz]. We conclude that, in formerly sedentary women, a modest program of a widely acceptable form of exercise, brisk walking, can provoke an increase in this sensitive index of bone condition.

Adult

Measurement of hip prostheses using image analysis. The maxima hip technique.

A computer-based image analysis system has been developed as a research tool in total hip replacement. The system has been programmed to take multiple measurements from coronal plane radiographs. Poor quality radiographic images can be enhanced and standardised. The measurements which can be obtained include stem subsidence, cup migration, cup wear, and stem loosening. Reproducibility and accuracy were +/- 0.01 mm and +/- 0.5 mm respectively. The present application is in retrospective research, but prospective monitoring of radiographs is planned.

Hip Joint

Effective pulmonary flow, aortic flow and cardiac output: in vitro and in vivo comparisons in the dog.

This paper presents data on the measurement of aortic flow (Qa) using an electromagnetic flowmeter and the measurement of pulmonary blood flow (Qep) using a single-breath technique employing freon-22 as the soluble marker gas. The purpose was to assess the potential of a single-breath technique (using freon) as an effective way to estimate cardiac output (Q) non-invasively. The electromagnetic flowmeter was calibrated in vitro in an isolated heart-aorta preparation by collection of the ejected blood volume, thereby giving an absolute calibration of the Qa measurement. Using anaesthetized beagles Qa was measured immediately preceding (Qa,mean) and during (Qa,inst) measurement of Qep. These measurements were made before and after I.V. bolus doses of nifedipine used to increase cardiac output so as to measure a range of flows. The Qa was disturbed by the respiratory manoeuvre imposed as part of the single-breath technique, rising, falling and rising again as the lung volume was reduced, increasing with the test gas and reducing again, typically giving Qep = 1.39 +/- 0.13 l min-1, Qa,mean = 1.35 +/- 0.15 l min-1 and Qa,inst = 1.33 +/- 0.17 l min-1 (+/- S.D., n = 7 in each case). The standard deviations include interanimal variation as well as technique errors. Regression analysis of Qep on Qa,mean gave the highest correlation (r = 0.75) and the lowest coefficient of variation (11.7%), the values being 0.69 and 14.0% respectively for Qep on Qa,inst. These compare favourably with equivalent values for alternative methods reported in the literature, the strict calibration giving confidence that the single-breath technique provides data closely related to the aortic flow found prior to the respiratory manoeuvre, i.e. the undisturbed cardiac output.

Animals

Prosthetic hip failure: retrospective radiograph image analysis of the acetabular cup.

A method has been developed for quantifying movement and wear of the acetabular component (cup) of total hip replacements (THR) from routine postoperative and review radiographs. The method uses both interactive and automatic computer image analysis techniques. Dimensions of the prosthesis are used to scale the measurements and so overcome variation in radiographic alignment. The application of the method is illustrated by retrospective investigations of cup migration and wear using review radiographs taken over a follow-up of at least 12 years.

Acetabulum

Suicide and increased availability of handguns in the United States.

During the 25 years between 1959 and 1984, the suicide rate in the United States increased from 10.5/100,000 to 12.4/100,000. The increase was confined to those suicides using a firearm, which had reached 58.5% of the total by the end of the period. At the same time, there was a marked increase in the household ownership of handguns (but not of shotguns and rifles). The present study investigates whether the increase in suicide might be due to the increase in the ownership of handguns. Regression analyses showed a strong relationship between handgun ownership and the rate of gun suicides, but not between handgun ownership and the overall rate of suicide. These results support the hypothesis that the rise in handguns has led to an increase in gun suicides, but, they do not permit a choice between two further competing hypotheses: (i) that more people are now committing suicide because there are more handguns available or, (ii) that people who would otherwise have killed themselves in some different way are now using guns. Because of the potential implications for prevention, further study of these issues is needed.

Firearms

The Loughborough anthropometric shadow scanner (LASS).

There has been interest in the use of drawing frames and other devices to record the size and shape of the human body since Albrecht Dürer's Vier Bücher von Manschlicher Proportion was published in 1528. Until recently, however, the methods used have been slow and laborious, mostly involving some degree of physical contact. This article describes a fully automated system which is capable of making such measurements quickly, accurately, and comprehensively.

Anthropometry

Solubility of freon-22 in blood and lung tissue.

Despite the frequent use of freon-22 (e.g. to measure pulmonary blood flow), there is no agreement on its solubility in water or body fluids. The values in the literature vary, often quoted without reference to measurement or identification as Ostwald or Bunsen coefficients. We used a Schölander apparatus and determined the Bunsen solubility coefficient (mlgas.(mlfluid.atmosphere)-1) at 37 degrees C as: 0.476 in water; 0.673 in human whole blood; 0.479 in human plasma; 0.662 in canine whole blood; 0.437 in canine plasma; and 1.077 in homogenized canine lung tissue. As pure freon was used, these solubilities may not be applicable if freon-22 does not obey Henry's law. In man, the Ostwald solubility coefficient is calculated as 0.76 ml/ml whole blood at BTPS. These results provide information for further studies involving freon-22, and clear the confusion which has arisen from poorly defined solubility coefficients.

Animals

Spermatozoon ultrastructure of Platichthys flesus.

The ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of Platichthys flesus (flounder) has been determined. The cell is of the primitive type and lacks an acrosome. The bullet-shaped, homogeneously electron-dense nucleus has a deep, caudal articular fossa containing proximal and distal centrioles. Both centrioles are embedded in pericentriolar material which is intimately associated with the nuclear envelope. Around the proximal centriole the material is organised into a dense ring which bears nine fibres associated with the triplets, and a large fibrous body, all connected to the nuclear envelope. Connections exist also between the pericentriolar material of the proximal and distal centrioles. The material around the distal centriole is organised into a complex collar. The anterior surfaces of eight spherical mitochondria lie within shallow depressions of the nuclear caudal surface. They form a ring surrounding the posterior opening of the articular fossa and the proximal region of the 9 + 2 flagellar axoneme.

Animals

Spermiogenesis in Platichthys flesus.

Early spermatids of Platichthys flesus (flounder) have a central spherical nucleus and cytoplasm with numerous dispersed mitochondria and a pair of peripheral centrioles. One of the centrioles acts as a kinetosome for axoneme formation. After the start of chromatin condensation the centrioles and developing axoneme migrate to adopt a tangential orientation adjacent to a flattened, lateral margin of the nucleus. During migration, pericentriolar material becomes reorganised. The proximal centriole becomes surrounded by nine fibres, and the distal centriole by a complex collar. As the nucleus condenses it undergoes a rotation which shifts it to the anterior of the centrioles and deepens the articular fossa which houses, and is connected to, the two centrioles and their associated structures. This rotation also results in the mitochondria becoming relocated to form a ring around the proximal region of the axoneme to give the cell its mature ultrastructure.

Animals

Ultrasonic measurements of subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness in man.

Subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SCATT) has for many years been measured using skinfold calipers, but calipers have several disadvantages, not least that they compress the skinfold. Measuring SCATT using ultrasound was validated by comparing thicknesses at 12 sites with soft-tissue radiographs in 24 adults and with depth gauge measurements on a cadaver. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.87 to 0.99, and the regression statistics showed no significant difference between ultrasound and the other procedures. The standard errors of estimate of body density from SCATT measured by calipers and ultrasound in 63 young men was +/- 7.8 and 7.3 kg X m-3, respectively. Although problems in the identification of the adipose tissue-muscle interface can arise, ultrasound is a viable alternative to skinfold calipers and is to be preferred when measuring uncompressed SCATT.

Adipose Tissue