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Biomedical subjects

R Taylor

Publications and source records attributed to R Taylor.

At least 703 records · Page 39Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Insulin action in cirrhosis.

In vivo insulin sensitivity and adipocyte insulin binding and action were assessed in 16 patients with histologically proven hepatic cirrhosis and 11 age-, weight- and sex-matched normal control subjects. The cirrhotic group displayed impaired oral glucose tolerance, despite an exaggerated serum immunoreactive insulin response, and in vivo insulin resistance as assessed both by the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp and the glucose-insulin infusion techniques. Adipocytes of the cirrhotic patients bound significantly less insulin than those of the control subjects (2.21 +/- 0.12% vs. 2.64 +/- 0.13%; p less than 0.05). Although the adipocytes from the cirrhotic patients were less sensitive to insulin stimulation in vitro (half-maximal stimulation at 60.0 +/- 8.0 vs. 21.8 +/- 3.3 pM; p less than 0.001), they exhibited higher maximum rates of lipogenesis. Comparison of the responses of the alcoholic, primary biliary cirrhosis and cryptogenic subgroups suggested pronounced differences in the maximum rates of lipogenesis. There were significant negative correlations between specific binding to adipocytes and both fasting serum immunoreactive insulin and in vivo insulin resistance as assessed by glucose-insulin infusion. Monocyte insulin binding was normal in the cirrhotic group and did not correlate with in vivo insulin resistance. It is concluded that both binding and postbinding defects in insulin target organ cells contribute to the marked in vivo insulin resistance of hepatic cirrhosis.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Patterns of neuropsychological impairment in dementia of the Alzheimer type and multi-infarct dementia.

Patterns of performance on 22 neuropsychological tests were examined in 58 patients with presumed dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and 58 patients with presumed multi-infarct dementia (MID). Few differences between patterns of performance in DAT and MID were found when overall level of performance was taken into account. Within the DAT group, there were some age-related differences in performance that in themselves might support other studies suggesting clinical and neuropathological differences between subtypes of DAT that are related in part to the age at which the condition occurs. However, similar age-related patterns were found in the MID group and the DAT and MID groups did not differ significantly in this respect. Considerable inter-individual variability in pattern of performance was apparent within each group. A proportion of patients were re-assessed 10 months after initial assessment: the extent of decline over time was not predictable from patients' characteristics or test performances at initial assessment. 'De-differentiation' in patterns of impairment, over time or with increasing severity of impairment, was not observed.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

National Adult Reading Test performance in established dementia.

Demographic and neuropsychological test data from patients with dementia of Alzheimer or multi-infarct type were analysed in an examination of the validity of the National Adult Reading Test (NART) as an index of premorbid ability in established dementia. The discrepancy between premorbid IQ predicted firstly using the NART and secondly using demographic variables entered in a recognised regression equation was calculated. This discrepancy correlated strongly with measures of current level of functioning, even after exclusion of patients with apparent dysphasia or dyslexia. The results indicate that NART performance is clearly influenced by severity of dementia, and that use of the NART as a comparator in estimating the severity of established dementia will lead to systematic underestimation of severity as a function of that severity. Estimates of premorbid function based on demographic variables may be preferable in this context.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Reduction in snoring with phosphocholinamin, a long-acting tissue-lubricating agent.

The efficacy of a long-acting lubricating and coating agent, phosphocholinamin, in reducing snoring was tested in 12 persons, six of whom received the agent as nose drops and six of whom received a placebo (tap water nose drops). In all subjects, the noise level was measured continuously by using a microphone taped near the cricothyroid notch. In the group treated with phosphocholinamin, the maximum nocturnal decibel level was reduced by a mean +/- SD of 13 +/- 3%, and the snoring index (defined as the number of snores per hour of sleep) was reduced by 25 +/- 12%. In the group treated with placebo, the maximum nocturnal decibel level increased 9 +/- 22% and the snoring index increased 1 +/- 20%. The differences between the two groups were statistically significant (P less than .05). It is concluded that phosphocholinamin can provide a useful medical alternative in the treatment of snoring and that further trials of this agent are indicated.

Administration, Intranasal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evolution of the continuity equation in the Doppler echocardiographic assessment of the severity of valvular aortic stenosis.

The use of Doppler techniques has greatly enhanced the noninvasive ultrasound technique for evaluation of valvular aortic stenosis. M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography could not reliably distinguish patients with severe aortic stenosis from those with milder obstructions. The hemodynamic information offered by Doppler complemented echocardiographic imaging and provided an alternative modality for evaluation of patients with aortic stenosis. By application of the modified Bernoulli equation, the pressure gradient across the stenotic aortic valve could be estimated by Doppler echocardiography. Though helpful and widely used, the information provided by the pressure gradient across the valve about the severity of the obstruction was not complete. The assessment of valvular aortic stenosis therefore includes an estimation of the valve area by application of the continuity equation. This review examines the maturation of the continuity equation by Doppler techniques and discusses the implications of the procedure.

Aortic Valve Stenosis↗