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Biomedical subjects

R Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to R Taylor.

At least 613 records · Page 34Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Seroepidemiology of infection with hepatitis B virus in Fiji.

A batch of 984 sera obtained from a stratified sample of Melanesians and Indians living in rural and urban areas of Fiji in 1981 were for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) by solid phase radioimmunoassay. The prevalence of hepatitis B infection (as measured by the sum of HBsAg and anti-HBc frequencies of HBsAg negative sera in the two groups) was 81.5% and 17.9%, respectively. No major differences were detected between urban and rural populations. While hepatitis B virus is endemic in Melanesians and Indians, the epidemiology of the infection shows certain differences. Among Melanesians, infection appears to be acquired early in life and peak prevalence of serologic markers of infection occurs during the second decade. Among the Indian population, the prevalence of markers increases steadily with age, presumably as a result of continuous exposure and infection throughout life. the high prevalence of infection and carriers among Melanesians is consistent with previous observations among Pacific populations. The lower prevalence of infection among Indians is remarkable, since they constitute almost half of the total population and live under similar conditions. Since the two populations remain largely separate in terms of housing and schooling, and intermarriage is uncommon, it is no possible to determine whether these differences merely represent different degrees of exposure to the virus or are the reflection of differences in susceptibility or response to infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Prevalence rates of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus in various Pacific populations according to the new WHO criteria.

This report gives the prevalence rates of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and diabetes mellitus (DM) for several Micronesian, Polynesian, and Melanesian populations in the Pacific region according to the new WHO criteria.The Micronesian population of Nauru show the highest prevalence rates of both IGT (22.7%) and DM (30.3%) - 53% of the adult population thus demonstrating abnormal glucose tolerance. The lowest prevalence rates of both IGT (4.5%) and DM (1.5%) were seen in the rural Melanesian population of the main island of New Caledonia.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

The high prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus in an isolated Polynesian population, Manihiki, Cook Islands.

An epidemiologic survey of 133 adult Polynesians of Manihiki Atoll, Cook Island group, revealed a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (males 8.0 percent, females 10.3 percent) and impaired glucose tolerance (males 8.0 percent, females 31.0 percent). Those with abnormal glucose tolerance were older, more obese, and engaged in less physical activity than normals. The females had a higher prevalence of both diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance than the males. Although Manihiki is geographically isolated, the islanders have a good income from copra and pearl shell. The change from a traditional to a modern way of life in a population with an increase susceptibility to diabetes is the probable cause of the high prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance. The change in living patterns is a consequence of change from a subsistence existence to involvement in the cash economy.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

The influence of variation in obesity in the sex difference in the prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance in Tuvalu.

The prevalence of abnormal glucose tolerance in the Polynesian population of Funafuti, Tuvalu (formerly the Ellice Islands) is much higher in females than males. However, the women are more obese than the men. Adjusting for obesity reduced the relative risk of abnormal glucose tolerance between males and females but the differences remained statistically significant. It is concluded that differences in the extent of obesity in the male and female population of Tuvalu explain part (but not all) of the differences in prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance in Funafutians.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1981

The low specificity of postoperative perfusion lung scan defects.

Ventilation and perfusion lung scans were performed preoperatively and postoperatively in 169 patients and classified blindly according to preset criteria. Perfusion lung scan abnormalities were present in 25 (15%) of the preoperative scans and 42 (25%) of the postoperative scans; 16 (38%) of the 42 abnormal postoperative scans were identical to the preoperative scans. Perfusion defects indicating a "high probability" of pulmonary embolism (lobar or segmental defects) were present in 5 preoperative scans and 10 postoperative scans; the 10 postoperative scans were classified as showing "definite" (5), "possible" (1) or "no" (4) pulmonary embolism on the basis of the preoperative scan and the ventilation scan; none of the 10 patients had clinical evidence of pulmonary embolism. Venous thrombosis was present in 12 patients, including 4 of the patients whose lung scans showed definite pulmonary embolism. Thus, postoperative perfusion lung scan defects are potentially misleading even when large.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

Comparative evaluation of segmental asynergy in remote myocardial infarction by radionuclide angiography, two-dimensional echocardiography, and contrast ventriculography.

Radionuclide angiography (RNA), two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE), and contrast ventriculography (CVG) were compared in the evaluation of regional wall motion (RWM) in 58 patients with remote myocardial infarction (MI). All 58 patients were studied by 2DE, 52 by RNA, and 24 by CVG. Severe degrees of segmental asynergy (akinesia/dyskinesia) were noted more often by 2DE (56% of all segments, p less than 0.005) and CVG (52%, p less than 0.05) than by RNA (39%). The apex more the most frequent site of akinesia/dyskinesia by all technique (43% by RNA, 36% by 2DE, and 45% by CVG). 2DE and RNA agreed in 64% of regions (p less than 0.005), 2DE and CVG agreed in 68% (p less than 0.005), and RNA and CVG agreed in 70% (p less than 0.005); the highest agreement was for the apical region. Dyskinesia was noted in 77% of patients by RNA, in 71% by 2DE, and 79% by CVG. RNA and CVG agreed in 89% of patients and in 57% of regions, 2DE and CVG agreed in 67% of patients and in 53% of regions, and RNA and 2DE agreed in 71% of patients and in 38% of regions. Combined RNA and 2DE detected dyskinesia in 94% of the 16 patients with dyskinesia by CVG who underwent all three techniques and in 90% of the 52 patients studied by RNA and 2DE. We conclude that (1) RNA, 2DE an CVG agree significantly in the evaluation of regional wall motion; (2) there is better agreement concerning the presence or absence of dyskinesia in a given patients than the exact region involved; and (3) the combination of RNA and 2DE is more useful than either alone as a screening procedure for the detection of ventricular dyskinesia.

Adult↗
PubMed1981

The contribution of social science research to health policy: the Royal Commission on the National Health Service.

This article adopts a case study approach to examine the contribution of social science research to health policy. It concentrates exclusively on the recent Royal Commission on the National Health Service. After describing its background and modus operandi the paper goes on to assess the Report's utilization of social science research, both in its diagnosis and recommendations. This assessment suggests that while the Commissioners made relatively little use of research-based evidence in their diagnosis, their recommendations provide the basis for a substantial increase in the contribution of social scientists, particularly in the field of health services evaluation.

Health Policy↗